Orange NSW: AMWU urges Electrolux to stay in Orange

AMWU Oct 10, 2013

AMWU members are urged to join the NSW community of Orange in their fight to keep their largest employer from relocating production of great Australian fridges and freezers to Thailand.

The fate of 500 jobs at the Electrolux plant and hundreds more in the Orange region depends upon the company’s board in Sweden recognising the high quality of its research and production in NSW as suitable for its next generation of products, with a decision expected by mid-December.

A positive outcome would see the Orange plant - which makes a third of the freezers and fridges sold in Australia - gaining Swedish investment to expand production of Electrolux, Westinghouse and Kelvinator brands by a further 30 per cent.

That would include a big boost in exports to South East Asia.

But if the company chooses to put its investment into its plant in Rayong, Thailand, it would likely lead to winding down and closure of Orange from 2015.

The potential annual loss to the region in jobs and investment would be nearly $100 million dollars a year – a catastrophic economic and social impact on the NSW Central West.

AMWU State Secretary Tim Ayres said the Orange factory made about 400,000 fridges and freezers of varying size each year for Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

It also had a world-class research and development centre with 44 expert staff.

Orange produces the highest quality products of any Electrolux plant worldwide, with repair rates far lower than overseas plants and remains profitable in the face of cheaper import competition.

“It’s crunch time for Electrolux,” he said.

“Now is the time to stand up for the local workforce and retaining the skills and expertise Australia needs. The company’s board need to know how strong our members’ case is.”

Members are urged to send a message of support for Electrolux in Orange directly to the Chairman of the company’s board in Sweden, Marcus Wallenberg, via www.buildthemhere.com.au.