SPC Ardmona sacks 73 workers at its Goulburn Valley plant SPC ARDMONA has sacked 73 workers at its Goulburn Valley processing plant as the struggling company fights for survival. The maintenance employees were told this morning their jobs would be redundant by May and "outsourced" to contracted labour. It comes as the company awaits a $50 million funding proposal to the federal and Victorian governments to support a restructure of its food processing business. Electrical Trades Union branch organiser Damian King slammed the company's decision as a "massive festive season kick in the guts" and said it was unprecedented to announce such sackings between Christmas and the New Year. It was revealed last week that federal Cabinet remained split over the funding proposal. Many ministers are expressing concern over union influence at the site. It is believed strict guidelines, including for productivity improvements, were put to SPC Ardmona's parent company Coca-Cola Amatil earlier this month. Any funding arrangement would be contingent on these being adopted. Mr King said the announcement had "the fingerprints of the Federal Government all over it" and the employees had been made sacrificial lambs for the company to provide the appearance of improvements before federal Cabinet reconsidered its proposal late next month. He said unions had put "substantial cost-saving proposals" to SPCA management last week, including a two-year wage freeze and improved shift rostering and work hours arrangements. "It is totally arrogant and offensive to answer such proposals by telling 70 employees, on the first working day after Christmas, that their employment would be terminated," Mr King said. A spokesman for SPC Ardmona said employees were aware of the "critical and urgent need to transform our business" and the majority had responded in practical ways" to lift productivity. The workers had been previously advised their positions were under review as the company assessed its work practices to identify productivity improvements. The jobs would be outsourced in May, in the expectation that the provider would set up a Shepparton-based office.