Workers Affected by Gas Outage

The CTU is saying that workers should not be forced to use up annual leave as a result of the disruption to gas supply.

Helen Kelly, CTU President, said that there are reports of up to 5,000 firms affected. The Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association are saying that one option is for employers to put workers on annual leave.

"This is unacceptable".

"Sure, workers may do other duties if it is safe and practical to do so. And workers will cooperate, but they should not be forced to take annual leave."

Helen Kelly said that while more details are needed on this latest incident, it is yet another example of how unprepared New Zealand is for such adverse events.

"There is an assumption that things are all right - until they go wrong".

"We seem to be drifting towards a third world status where we have deregulated, privatised, and reduced government resources. We have failed to develop risk strategies and divided up supply chains into so many different areas of responsibility that any major incident has us scrambling".

Helen Kelly said "no country can eliminate risk - and New Zealand has been badly affected by natural disasters. But we also seem to have exposed ourselves to adverse consequences in the way we deal with infrastructure, and strategic assets."

"It is time for a new approach to how we protect the environment and look after strategic assets. We need to invest in them, and prepare proper risk strategies with back up plans that are flexible and responsive and ready to be implemented in quick response."

ENDS

© Scoop Media