The JBS owned facility aims to combat the downturn by shifting from double to single shift work days, resulting in the layoffs.Most of the workers came from labour hire firms (who outsource skilled and unskilled blue-collar workers) or are on temporary work visas.
Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union Secretary, Newcastle and Upper NSW Grant Courtney said the writing for the layoffs was written on the wall.
"When there's livestock downturn or when the market corrects itself, jobs are always lost and usually the areas that are dropped first are labour hire workers."
JBS has confirmed it is still committed to the future of its Scone operations.
Mr. Courtney said the focus should remain on keeping local workers.
"It's about career opportunities for local people, who are also looking for work."
"The company needs to have a look at itself and say "well okay, who are the people we should be keeping"."
"We want to make sure that there's a career path for permanent residents into the future."
It comes after the abattoir was sold by Primo to JBS in March 2015. At the time, New England MP Barnaby Joyce confirmed then Treasurer Joe Hockey had the authority to divest JBS of the meatworks.
Image courtesy of Emma Brown, via ABC News (LINK).
