October 3, 2013

15 jobs saved at Safe Air as Government sits on its hands

Unions and employers are working together to save jobs while the Government refuses to act on a high New Zealand dollar which is hurting businesses, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

This week, Safe Air in Blenheim confirmed that 69 jobs would be lost from its aircraft maintenance facility.

The company initially announced that 84 jobs would be lost, but after working closely with the union, 15 have been saved.

“Safe Air doesn’t want to lay people off, contracts have dried up and new work is difficult to attract because the high dollar has made Aircraft Maintenance in New Zealand uncompetitive on a global stage” says Strachan Crang, EPMU assistant director of organising.

“This is a relief for some that we have been able to save some jobs, but it’s still devastating news for the 69 workers who have lost their jobs. It’s all bad news for Blenheim and the Marlborough district, with businesses closing and work in short supply.”

The loss of the workers’ salaries alone will take around $4 million annually out of the Marlborough economy.

“The Government has refused to support Kiwi jobs. It has sat by while the high dollar has devastated our manufacturing and export industries. Now Blenheim is being added to the list of communities who are paying the price for Government inaction.”

Workers at Safe Air are entitled to redundancy pay as part of their union-negotiated collective agreement.

ENDS

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