Jobs at last! It's party time in Mangere!

By SIMON COLLINS

A hundred new Mangere meatworkers encircled Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton yesterday to celebrate finding jobs after months and sometimes years out of work.

Most of the workers at American-owned Jack Link's beef snack plant were previously unemployed, and 90 per cent are Polynesian. Job numbers are expected to grow to 200 next month, and to 400 in two years.

All staff were given the day off yesterday to celebrate the factory opening. After the official speeches in a big marquee, they surrounded Mr Anderton and sang a song composed by oven workers Alex Carroll and Fiatau Peika.

"I'm rapt," said Raewyn Manuel, a Manurewa mother who has been on a benefit on and off for the 21 years since her first son was born.

In the short-term jobs she has had over the years, she has never earned more than $9 an hour. Jack Link's pays a standard starting rate of $12.50 an hour.

"That's at least $70 a week more than the benefit," Raewyn Manuel said.

"My 'babies' are now 17 and 18, and with the job I hope I'm setting them an example.

"I'm trying to encourage them because of the sort of money that's out there. They don't have to start on $8 or $9.

"I have always pushed them to stay at school, whereas I missed out the education.

"I'm hoping they'll get into some sort of well-paying job, something worthwhile."

Former prison officer Vilisoni Hemaloto said his job in Jack Link's warehouse was his first after 10 years on accident compensation. He was stabbed in the back by a prisoner and has not been able to do any job where he has had to lift more than 15kg.

Mr Hemaloto said he heard about the new factory through friends. "I love it."

One of a handful of Palagi workers, Clyde Fergusson, was made redundant by Top Hat Bacon after 10 years' service and then was "replaced by a Machine" in his next job.

He has been out of work since the Friday before Christmas.

Unemployment has been difficult for Mr Fergusson and his wife and two children.

"You have to go down. Your outgoings are greater than your incomings."

Mr Fergusson said he had read in the media about Jack Link's, and got the job through Work and Income NZ (Winz).

"I'm happy. I'm back into the sort of work I'm good at."

Mr Anderton said the multicultural celebration, which included a performance by Samoan children from Mangere Central School, was a reply to politicians who thought New Zealand had too many immigrants.

"This New Zealand in this tent here today is the New Zealand of the future, and I welcome that and I'm proud of it," he said.

Mr Anderton met Jack Link's executives in the Beehive in 2000 and assured them of the Government's support.

Winz helped to recruit the workforce, and Skill NZ and the Ministry of Education helped with training, but the company did not receive any official subsidy.

Mr Anderton has not held any meeting open to the general public in Auckland since launching his campaign on June 22 in the Northcote electorate, where his Progressive Coalition colleague and fellow MP Grant Gillon is standing.

However, he plans to return to Northcote on Monday and will hold a public meeting in South Auckland on Tuesday.

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