Camperdown abattoir was located close to Sydney and closed in 1991 following violent industrial confrontations over pay and conditions.

Other Names

Current Operation

• Closed 1991¹

Location   

• 8km SE Sydney CBD
  

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

• Famicopr – Farouk Fami¹

Operation

•    Famicorp also own Deniliquin Abattoir (NSW).¹

History

1991

• May. Fired 130 workers²
• Oct. Mounted police charged meatworkers picketing abattoir 26th October 1991²
  • Body Hire firm – ‘Troubleshooters Available’ assis abattoir to find contract labour²
  • Camperdown 1st abattoir to be staffed by contract labour²
• Violent protests between unions against police and contractors over pay conditions and pay.¹
• Mangement decided to employ contract workers, never reached an agreement with unions, abattoir closed.¹
• Bitter and violent industrial confrontation forced plant’s closure¹
• “ Troubles arise from attempts by some exporters to cut  meatworkers wages and conditions” Bill Malcolm – Senior lecturer in Agricultural economics at Melbourne University
• Several closures in Victoria abattoirs as a result of shortage of livestock
• QLD meat industry seen as having advantage over Vic-
  • QLD – increasingly lot fed animals receving higher export prices, ability to export quicker to Japan²
  • Vic – grass fed animals,
    • Extracting difference in profit margins from meatworkers²

2007

• Poperty is carved into 6 lots and beng advertised for total price of $800,000 (dated 10.12.2007)¹
  • old abattoir site nearly 10ha for sale for $230,000¹
  • Is an abandoned site, in shocking repair, has asbestos¹
  • Shire council asked management to clean up site¹

Sources

1. ‘Derelict abattoir for sale’ The Standard. 10.12.2007
2. ‘Mounted Police attack abattoir pcikets’ Green left weekly. 30.10.1991

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