Tsunami woes reach flood-hit beef jobs

A COLLAPSE in sales of prime Australian beef to tsunami-hit Japan has forced an abattoir chain to halt production at its meatworks in Toowoomba.

Abattoir workers at JBS, Toowoomba

A COLLAPSE in sales of prime Australian beef to tsunami-hit Japan has forced abattoir chain JBS Swift to halt production at its Beef City meatworks in Toowoomba, compounding the Queensland town's own flood recovery.

At least 940 staff have been told there will be no work for them for a fortnight from tomorrow, in line with advice from JBS's Japanese wholesale customers of a temporary halt to shipments from Australia.

ACTU secretary Jeff Lawrence attacked the Brazilian-owned company for showing "contempt" to its workforce in Toowoomba, at a time when the community was still recovering from January's flash-flood disaster.

The Queensland government said last night it had been assured by JBS that the shutdown was temporary, but there was confusion among the workers about how long it would last.

"JBS has made a decision to hold off on operations for a fortnight and is hoping to have workers back on deck around July 15," said state Employment Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

"While I remain confident operations will start again soon at JBS, we will watch the situation closely."

JBS's head office did not return calls yesterday.

The vast Beef City abattoir, which processes 1100 cattle a day, employs 940 people and is Toowoomba's biggest job provider. JBS operates 10 abattoirs in Australia and five cattle feedlots.

Those reporting for duty at Beef City yesterday were told that operations would cease in preparation for the two-week shutdown because of the slump in demand from Japan.

Sixty per cent of the plant's output is sent to Japan, Beef City manager Justin McCormick said. The company was seeking alternative customers, domestically and abroad, and could bring forward the start-up if any were found for the high-quality output from Toowoomba.

Workers would be able to take accrued annual leave while production was suspended, Mr McCormick told The Australian. A limited number of positions could be opened up at JBS's Dinmore plant in Brisbane's west for those who had no time owing.

Slaughtermen Scott Mengel and Robert Beilefeld said they were shocked by the development. Both have pregnant wives at home, due to give birth soon.

"I've heard the shut-down could extend to three or four weeks. It's devastating. I don't know what I'll do. I have a mortgage to pay. I'll have to find work somewhere else until the abattoir reopens," Mr Beilefeld said.