Les Miserables jumps off screen and comes to real life in an Auckland cinema.
The dozen or so workers at EVENT Cinemas Highland Park theatre in Auckland have been offered only two weeks redundancy
pay offered by Australian owned chain. Most of the workers have been there for 5 to 6 years, with some having given 8,
12 and 16 years service. When head office was asked by the Union Union official representing them if they could
reconsider, they offered some workers complimentary movie tickets.
"The workers at the Highland Park site have decided to fight, not only for themselves, but for all workers in New
Zealand to be protected by redundancy laws." said Unite Union theatres organiser Joe Carolan. The union, says its time
for a minimum four weeks redundancy, and 2 weeks for every additional year worked as recognition for length of service.
Today they will raise their red flag at the Highland Park site at 430pm. Further actions at EVENT Cinemas are planned
for Saturday night, and the day of closure next Wednesday. A petition in solidarity is being circulated nationally in
every unionised cinema, including the Hoyts and Readings chains.
END
Unite Union Cinemas organiser Joe Carolan talks to Angus on the reasons why action is needed on the lack of any
statutory entitlement to redundancy pay in NZ.http://www.95bfm.com/default,209438.sm