Months of speculation over the shaky future of Kodak’s Melbourne manufacturing plant has ended, with 600 workers being told the film production plant would be shut down for the last time on November 26. Most affected workers would be out of the job by December 2. John Allen, Kodak Australia chairman, recognised it was a hard decision that had been made, saying, "It is with regret that I announce the closure of the Coburg manufacturing plant. It is also with regret that I announce the closure of the wholesale photo processing lab at Coburg. The last day for production will be 22 October 2004."
Workers and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU) have been working frantically in recent months to preserve the jobs, which have been hit with the global shift away from film towards digital imaging.
Allen says all impacted employees will receive their full redundancy and other entitlements, as well as being offered a comprehensive counselling and career transition programme to help with finding new employment.
"This decision was in no way influenced by the performance of our operations, or Australian economic, industrial or political factors. Kodak values the strong support it has received from its employees, governments and the local community," says Allen.
"Kodak remains committed to the Australian market and will continue to offer a full range of traditional and digital photographic services and products to our consumer and commercial customers."
