Camperdown

Jo Bloomfield

12 years ago

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

Other Names

Current Operation

Location

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Operation

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