MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: 15 March 2015
Workers receive conflicting advice on Cyclone Pam
Cyclone Pam is forecast to hit the east coast of the North Island overnight and conflicting advice from local government
means workers are unsure whether they should attend work tomorrow says FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid.
“Our union is receiving calls from members who are confused with the conflicting advice on whether they should attend
work tomorrow. In one statement Auckland Civil Defence says ‘if possible Aucklanders should reconsider their travel
plans and work from home to avoid expected travel disruption’ yet in another statement Aucklanders are advised to ‘stay
at home and off the roads unless absolutely necessary’” says Mr Reid.
“The Whakatane District Council website tells workers to “avoid driving unless absolutely necessary” but the Gisborne
District Council “urges people to stay at home”.
“Cyclone Pam is a serious weather event and it has already left a trail of destruction and death in Vanuatu and other
Pacific islands. Workers and employers need accurate and authoritative advice from local councils and civil defence
agencies. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment also needs to give clear advice that workers should be
paid for the time they are off work following local civil defence advice. However there is no mention of Cyclon0 Pame
and its impact on workers and businesses on the MBIE website” says Mr Reid.
“It’s time that the Ministers of Civil Defence and Workplace Relations got their heads together and ensured that
accurate advice is given to workers and businesses during this serious weather event”.
FIRST Union represents workers in the Finance, Industrial, Retail, Stores and Transport sectors including over 12,000 in
areas forecast to be affected by the Cyclone in Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.
ENDS