JOBS of more than 100 Victorian workers are in jeopardy after a Laverton North transport company went into voluntary administration on Friday.
Wettenhalls Group, based on Dohertys Road, has appointed BDO Chartered Accountants as administrators.
Transport Workers Union senior organiser Chris Fennell said Wettenhalls Group representatives contacted the union last Thursday after a division of the company went into administration.
He said administrators were reviewing the company’s books and were on site on Friday.
“More than 250 transport workers nationally could lose their jobs.”
Mr Fennell said the cause was big retailers driving down the cost of supply.
“The company was complaining that they were being squeezed by customers hitting them up for reductions all the time.
“Everyone’s always looking for a reduction, customers have seen what bigger companies are getting away with and are saying, ‘If you don’t do this, we’ll go elsewhere’.”
Some owner-drivers have not been paid since the end of 2012 and are owed four weeks’ pay, which could be up to $8000, Mr Fennell said.
Wettenhalls Group employs 500 people with 14 sites across the country, including Laverton North and Lara.
Ferrier Hodgson has been appointed receivers and managers to Wettenhalls. The assets and the control of the business are now the responsibility of the receivers and managers.
The union was arranging to meet with the company on Friday afternoon.
BDO has issued a statement saying it would be communicating with all creditors and a meeting of creditors would be held during the week commencing February 4.
