Unite Union
9am - 8 December 2009
For immediate release

Union to picket call centre over use of 90 day anti-worker law

Unite Union will picket the Wellington call centre of Positive Airflow Limited for sacking a worker and union member without reason under the National Party’s 90 day probationary period law. Positive Airflow Ltd sells Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) units.*

“Lisa Stoneham, a young worker, left a previous job to take up employment at the call centre. Days into her job however, she was told that she was fired and has now enrolled for an unemployment benefit,” said Wellington Unite organiser Matt Jones.

“Lisa was never given any notice or warning before she was fired and was not even told the reason for being dismissed”. The 90 day probationary period provides employers with the ability to treat workers like tools, to be picked up and put down at will without respect for how they can feed themselves or pay rent, said Matt Jones.

“We are calling on the company to reinstate Lisa and to remove the 90 day probationary period from its employees contracts. We are also calling for National to revoke the 90 day probationary period law before more vulnerable workers lose their jobs,” concluded Matt Jones.

Unionists will picket the call centre, on Home Street (behind Kent Terrace), Wellington, from 12.30pm on Wednesday 9th December.

ENDS

*Unite Union is a union of 8000 workers in sectors such as call centres, fast-food, security, cinemas, hotels and casinos.

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