KIMBERLY-CLARK Australia’s decision to close the Ingleburn Mill does not impact the Millicent site, the organisation’s new managing director says.
The company has informed employees at its Ingleburn Mill in Sydney of its plan to cease operations at the facility towards the end of July as part of its global restructuring program which was announced in January of last year.
As part of its global restructuring plan, US-based Kimberly-Clark Corporation slated 10 of its plants for closure.
The Ingleburn Mill closure will reduce the workforce by 220 with the manufacture of Huggies nappies moving to Asia.
In a statement provided to The South Eastern Times, new KCA managing director Doug Cunningham explained the local consequences of the closure decision, saying the announcement was limited to the Ingleburn Mill.
“At KCA we will continue to invest in our Family Care business through our capital program and sales and marketing investments,” Mr Cunningham said.
“As always, we are proud to continue to locally manufacture Kleenex, VIVA and Kimberly-Clark Professional products at Millicent.”
According to interstate media reports, the Ingleburn Mill closure has been strongly opposed by unions and local State Labor MP Greg Warren.
The reports quote a document circulated to KCA employees which states the Ingleburn Mill site will be sold and its machinery redeployed to other company sites.
Macarthur Federal MP Dr Mike Freelander and his Labor colleague Anne Stanley told Parliament of their disappointment, with Dr Freelander telling the chamber he was informed of the closure on the same day employees were told.
The pair have vowed to advocate for workers.
Comment was sought from Millicent Mill manager Scott Whicker.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union pulp and papermakers union Federal secretary Alex Millar said it was a sad time for workers at the Ingleburn Mill.
“I am aware the company has said there will be no impact at Millicent,” Mr Millar said.
“The fact remains the Kimberly-Clark Corporation has announced that 10 plants are slated for closure,
“So far, there have only been four or five plants identified.
“The company’s behaviour has been outrageous and I cannot trust it.
“The union was only advised about the Ingleburn closure via a text message and this was only two minutes before the workers were told.”
