Coles Myer abandons regional jobs

Date: 19 July 2001

70 jobs gone - more to follow as Coles Myer moves against Geelong Regional Jobs. "Corporate Australia and State Government abandon Regional Community" says union.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) today claimed that the reorganisation of the troubled Coles Myer Group will cost 70 positions in the next month at the Geelong Head Office of Target Stores. It says up to 800 other jobs are still at risk - and there have been no moves by either the State Government or Coles Myer to save these jobs in Geelong.

The ASU Branch President Martin Foley said today:

"Coles Myer is centralising all its business units (Target, Myer Stores, K Mart) Head Office buying and support functions to Melbourne. In doing so Coles Myer is abandoning regional communities. With Target Stores Head Office in Geelong being the only non- Melbourne Head Office in the Group this move spells trouble for the Geelong community and economy. And to make matters worse the State Government - elected on the back of regional communities - has gone missing on the issue."

Mr Foley's comments come after:

• The first meeting of the Geelong Community leaders roundtable held today to call upon both the Coles Myer Limited Group and the State Government maintaining all 850 jobs in Geelong.
• The ASU reached its goal of a petition to the state government from the Geelong community of over 10,000 signatures to stand up for the Geelong Head Office jobs.
• Coles Myer extended its trial of centralising to go beyond the 20 jobs already affected in the Footwear area to also include a further 50 jobs in the Bedding, Bath and Furnishings areas. These jobs are all moving from the different business units in Coles Myer Limited to a centralised Melbourne CBD location.

Mr Foley said:

"It is now time for the State Government and Coles Myer Limited to demonstrate its commitment to regional communities by committing to keep these high value service sector jobs in Geelong. How many more jobs will have to be lost before this matter becomes a concern to the State Government and to Australia's largest retailer? It's time for Mr Bracks to put up or shut up for the Geelong community."

"The workers at Target Head Office in Geelong are fighting to keep their jobs in their community. They have collected over 10,000 signatures in support of their campaign. The least they are demanding is that the State Government and the Board of Coles Myer Limited demonstrate their commitment to regional communities in actions by keeping the Target site in Geelong. We are demanding that if any centralisation of work is to be done then it should be done so as to keep jobs in Geelong, not lose them down the highway to Melbourne."

"The Bracks Government's commitment to regional communities looks fine on paper but we have yet to see any evidence of it in this case. The Coles Myer Board, as one of the largest corporations in Australia, has to ask itself whether it has an obligation to the regional communities that it so readily milks profits from." Mr Foley said.

The ASU has announced plans for a sustained political and community campaign to force both the state Government and Coles Myer to commit to the Geelong Jobs.

For further campaign information visit: http://www.savetargetjobs.org

For further information

Contact:	Martin Foley
Union:	Australian Services Union - Vic MEU Private Sector Branch
Phone:	03 9342 3400
Contact Mobile:	0419 312 326
Fax:	03 9342 3499
Email:	mfoley@meupsvic.asu.asn.au

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