Friday 21 July 2006
EMBARGOED UNTIL 10AM
SKYCITY Workers Begin Strike Action Starting from Today 10am
Auckland’s love affair with SkyCity is starting to crack. Certainly the 1200 union members at SkyCity have had enough
and will start rolling strikes starting from this morning at 10am.
A picket by SEA-Unite union members will be erected outside the main entrance from 10.00am today and thereafter at
regular intervals.
Chris Tatton-Brown, staff spokesperson for the SEA-Unite Union, says “The final straw for union members was the ‘spin’
put out by SkyCity after a customer was abducted from the site last weekend. The company claimed that this was an
isolated case and customers had nothing to worry about.”
“This is not true” says Tatton-Brown ”the security guards and surveillance operators, of which almost all belong to SEA
Unite, say their safety staff levels have been cut by over 20% since SkyCity open even though it has grown. SkyCity
security staff can no longer carry out the safety duties to protect customers they once did.”
“Whilst SkyCity has made over $100 million in the last 12 months cut-backs are relentless and customer care and safety
has declined.”
“For example last week a customer collapsed and no oxygen mask was available and security medics believe the person
could have died.”
"And we must ask if SkyCity will try to continue 'business as usual' without any experienced Security staff on duty
during the strike"
The 700 member SEA-Unite union contract negotiations have broken down and the other union, the SFWU, is also predicted
to breakdown next week.
“It seems amazing that Evan Davies the CEO receives a $1.5 million bonus on top of his salary when most staff earn
modest incomes of about $30,000 a year. Mr Davies bonus is enough to pay all SkyCity employees a 5% increase over six
months.”
SkyCity made a profit that equal to over $40,000 for every single employee.
There is certainly a winner at SkyCity but it isn’t the staff.
ENDS