Job cuts as robots take over at iconic Aussie pie maker

Image: Getty

Mrs Mac’s has announced plans to pursue a complete move to automation, with workers in the packing departments to face redundancies.

The chief executive of the pastry brand, Paul Slaughter, said the multimillion-dollar investment would “regrettably” trigger redundancies among the 300-strong staff, reported The Eastern Reporter.

“At this stage, no decisions have been made on specific redundancies,” he said.

“We are strongly committed to providing employees with redeployment and re-training options, which will form a key element of the consultation process to meet our goal of 100 per cent re-employment of all employees who may be impacted.”

The automation of the packaging department will complete the company’s transition, with the equipment expected to be fully integrated by 2020.

“This investment enables Mrs Mac’s to be competitive in the national and international markets, retains the business in Western Australia, and safeguards a significant number of jobs for West Australians both directly and indirectly,” Slaughter said.

Mrs Mac’s produces more than 100 million pies, quiches, pastries and sausage rolls each year.

It comes just weeks after a Bega Cheese manufacturing facility in Victoria also announced redundancies. These redundancies were the result of a decision to close the factory.

“The decision to close the site was made following a review of our network which concluded that the Coburg site’s capacity and city location cannot viably support Bega’s expected growth,” Bega said at the time.

Make your money work with Yahoo Finance’s daily newsletter. Sign up here and stay on top of the latest money, property and tech news.

Now read: Aldi is selling $90 mountain bikes

Now read: ‘CU in the NT’: Darwin Council debates banning controversial shirts at local markets

Now read: Workers on strike: ‘Australia’s Cheapest Chemist’ is the latest retailer to cop the heat