Letters, feedback, get it off your chest: 21 June 2011
The closure of Colourscan in Brisbane dominated this week's postbag.
Colourscan went into Liquidation owing employees 14 months worth of Superannuation. Colourscan also owed some employees Salary Sacrifice money which was not passed on to their Super Fund.
The employees received no entitlements, not even the last week wages they worked for Colourscan. They now have to go through the Government for their entitlements. Long time before we receive our Entitlements.
As for the Super owed, not much chance of recovering that money. Some employees have still not found employment which I imagine has created some difficult times for them.
The laws need to change to stop this sort of thing happening over and over again. Jeff Osborne, as director of the Company has a lot to answer for.
Former Colourscan employee
Name withheld by request
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Yes Colourscan has closed its doors, they are in receivership we have been told. Staff has not been assisted, they are still waiting for their last week's wages, all their entitlements, two years worth of superannuation and for some, wages that were supposed to be deposited into super accounts for salary sacrificing.
Mr Osborne hasn't so much as bothered to tell them where to go to claim for entitlements. He did however hand out payslips for wages that weren't actually received, Centrelink Separation Certificates for entitlements that weren't actually paid, the only one he looked after was himself,
My husband is one of the staff members who was told not to bother coming in for work anymore, without warning, without a cent, we are owed thousands of dollars as are all the rest of the staff.
We would be happy to give you details on how 'well' Mr Osborne has looked after his staff.
Tina Henrichs
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I am proud to say that I have known Jeff Osborne since his days as owner of fledgling typesetting company Intraset and was involved with Jeff in the start-up of Colourscan. To see this business close up shop is a reflection of what is happening to the print industry in Qld.
Jeff ran a good strong profit focused business and has good business Acumen. I made a conscious decision two years ago to exit the print industry in Queensland and I now know that I made the right choice. Colourscan made the transition from film trade house & typesetting business to printer at exactly the right time as tradional typesetting became ‘desktop publishing’.
Colourscan merged other smaller businesses into the fold over the years and gave many good people a continuation of employment. Say what you will about Jeff Osborne he is a good businessman and showed loyalty to staff when it mattered.
To see this icon of Brisbane vanish is a disappointment and I feel for the staff who are now looking to re-establish themselves in the industry; they can only hope to be ‘picked up’ by other good print companies in Brisbane, but they are becoming thin on the ground, especially privately owned medium size print companies.
Again the print industry will lose many good trades, administration & salespeople to other industries, who see ex-print industry staff as a worthwhile additions to their business as the print industries’ reputation is one of hard workers in a very competitive environment.
Good luck to Jeff, his family & the extended family of Colourscan.
RIP Print Industry.
Geoff Curtis
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Blue Star's print contract with the New Zealand Government is also still drawing response.
OK so they have won a $10.8 million contract with the NZ Government, but how many contracts / clients have they lost?
This is the $64,000 question.
Derek Clayton