Crisis bites glass jobs, discount shops in city

Alex de Vos
More than 100 jobs are at risk following the collapse of CSR’s Geelong glass-making plant and discount retail chains Go-Lo and Sam’s Warehouse.
CSR managing director Jerry Maycock confirmed on Wednesday that 80 workers would lose their jobs when the former Pilkington glass factory at North Geelong closed its doors later this year.
He blamed the declining automotive industry for falling demand for vehicle glass.
“The significant recent decline in the number of cars manufactured in Australia means the automotive glass business is no longer viable,” Mr Maycock said.
The industrial giant promised to cover worker redundancies.
Union officials warned in the Independent in September that the company’s future in Geelong was bleak.
CSR, which purchased Pilkington Automotive in 2007 before re-branding it Viridian, had ordered its employees to take four weeks unpaid leave before the end of last year.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union leader John Irvine laid the blame on the downturn in trade, including the loss of several contracts.
More Geelong jobs were under a cloud after Australian Discount Retail’s Go-Lo, Sam’s Warehouse and Crazy Clarks went into administration on Wednesday.
The company could not confirm whether the collapse would affect its Go-Lo store at Newcomb or Sam’s Warehouse outlets at Corio and in Geelong’s Little Malop Street.
The retail giant said high levels of debt had forced Australian Discount Retail’s stores into receivership.
A Sam’s Warehouse staff member, who did not want to be identified, said he was unconcerned about the collapse.
“We’re not closing down,” he said.
“We’ve got a long way to go before we lose our jobs.”
Australian Discount Retail employs more than 2500 people in 374 stores across Australia. The company had a sales turnover of about $810 million last year.
Australian Discount Retail and CSR did not return the Independent’s calls for comment before the paper went to press yesterday.