The upside to equipment upgrades at a Kelowna business is it helps the company survive in a competitive market.
The downside is less workers will be needed.
That’s the situation at Calona Wines, where 15 percent of the unionized work force is facing permanent lay-offs.
Trying to become more efficient and productive, the company is spending $1.5 million on new equipment to upgrade the bottling line. But more technology on the production line means 15 percent fewer workers are needed.
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“That’s the sad side of the whole move,” says Doug Gallagher of Calona Vineyards. “Presently were sitting at 61 people on the seniority list and there will be nine less in the future.”
Sad to lay off people Gallagher says are like family but a business necessity.
“It’s about being forward thinking, not getting caught in a place where production and efficiencies run you out of business and you no longer have a company. We’ve seen that far too often in the Okanagan and we don’t plan to be a part of that.”
And Gallagher says that means job security for the workers who remain.
The new bottling equipment arrives this summer. The layoffs will happen several months after that.
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