Job losses at Geon in Napier
Up to 15 jobs have been lost at Geon Print's Napier branch.
The sale of in-receivership Geon's assets to rival Blue Star last week saw 185 Geon jobs shed nationwide.
Blue Star executive chairman Tom Sturgess said 26 jobs would remain at the Onekawa branch and it would return to its former name.
"The site will trade going forward as Brebner Print," he said.
"Unfortunately 12 to 15 were made redundant by the receiver on Friday.
He said the Napier business relied heavily on work from other locations which had "reduced dramatically in receivership".
Hawke's Bay Today understands suppliers had boycotted the branch following the receivership, further limiting business.
EPMU print sector organiser Joe Gallagher said Geon was laden with "an unsustainable amount of debt".
"It's a dark day for those who are losing their jobs," he said.
"Some of our members have been there 16 years or more and they now find themselves in a very uncertain job market.
"People are desperate for work and the jobs just aren't there.
"We're looking forward to working with new owners the Blue Star Group to make sure the conditions of existing staff are honoured and those who have been made redundant receive their full entitlements."
Geon was established in 2007 from the merger of Promentum and Pacific Print Group and was bought by US private equity firm KKR and Australian private equity fund Allegro last year.
Brebner Print became major sponsor of Art Deco Weekend in 1987.
Geon continued the sponsorship in 2008.
