They were told their jobs were safe but this month more staff at the Feltex plant in Dannevirke will be packing their bags.
After letters were sent out on behalf of Feltex Carpets stating that Godfrey Hirst intended to offer them positions within the newly owned company, fivestaff were laid off with the promise of a maximum payout worth $15,000.
News of the redundancy came as a shock for quality control manager Ian Crellen, 64, but being told he would receive only $15,000 for his 31 years of service was "devastating". Even if he received the maximum redundancy payout he said he would still be $60,000 short of the standard amount staff were entitled to once holiday pay, sick leave and long-service leave were added up.
"It's just so devastating to be in this position," he said. "It's hard to find another job at my age and when you've still got a mortgage and a wife to support, you start to worry."
When truck drivers Dennis Beveridge and Ashleigh Gibson started their shift last Friday, they had no idea that by 3pm that day they would have to start looking for new jobs.
"They just told me straight out that Godfrey Hirst would not be renewing my contract and I wouldn't have a job by November 24," Mr Beveridge said. "They said there would be no more redundancies but it was just another lie."
Mr Gibson was with the company only six months and knew he would not receive a big payout but said a little honesty would have been appreciated.
Representatives from Feltex and Godfrey Hirst were not available for comment.
