Southern meat company Blue Sky Meats has reduced wages and cut 70 jobs after suffering what it has described as its most disappointing financial year.
The company went from a $6.5 million pre-tax profit the previous year to a loss of more than $600,000.
While other companies have yet to report their results, the Meatworkers' Union says it is clear that the whole industry has had a poor year financially.
National secretary Graham Cooke says it reflects an industry that largely has not changed its behaviour in 50 years.
Mr Cooke says many workers are concerned about the current state of the industry - not just because of the losses - but also because of over-capacity.
Union members feel that there is no leadership in the meat industry, he says.
