MEDIA RELEASE: EPMU & NDU
Friday March 20 2009

Nelson Pine redundancy process unsatisfactory - unions

Consultation over redundancies at Nelson Pine has ended with serious issues unresolved say the National Distribution Union (NDU) and the Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union (EPMU).

The two unions have particular concerns about the company’s redundancy process which will leave many Nelson Pine workers unsure of whether they have a job or not.

NDU Southern Regional Secretary Paul Watson says that Nelson Pine’s redundancy notification process is unfair to its workers.

“The company is refusing to let people know if they have jobs or not because it wants to keep its options open if people picked to stay in remaining positions decide to take voluntary redundancy.”

“This means the company is keeping some members hanging in limbo to make its own hiring process easier.”

The unions are also not happy about the company’s refusal to help offset the economic impact of members relocating to other jobs outside the Nelson district, give redundant workers first right of refusal of new employment at the site, and consider compensation for the considerable loss moving off night shift and weekend roster to day shift work.

EPMU organiser George Hollinsworth says the decision to close the consultation was made to speed up the unsatisfactory process.

“We’re obviously not happy with the way the process is being run but at this stage we think it is best to get it done as fast as possible so people can start looking for new work.”

The NDU and the EPMU represent 200 Nelson Pine workers between them.

ENDS
 

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