Morrison finds jobs for redundant staff

Press, 13 November 1982, Page 3

Morrison finds jobs for redundant staff

PA Hastings Morrison Industries -has found jobs for almost half of the 133 workers given redundancy notices at the end of last month. The company has also agreed to extend the redundancy notices of those still without jobs until December 24. The announcement was made to the staff at a twohour meeting yesterday. The general manager, Mr R. Higgins, said that most of the workers who had been found jobs would have permanent positions, the remainder had casual employment. “We are now very actively seeking jobs for the” remaining 73," he said. Initially, the redundnancy notices were to have taken effect from November 26, but the management extended the deadline after negotiations with representatives of the five unions at the plant. Among those who have been found other jobs are more than half of a group of 25 disabled people and Vietnamese refugees. Mr Higgins said that 15 employees had chosen to accept voluntary redundancy which meant their jobs could be filled by some of those \vho would have been out of work. The task of finding work for people who had been issued with redundancy notices, was "a big effort" which had involved Morrison’s own job task force, the Labour Department, the Rehabilitation League, other companies in the Fletcher Challenge Group, and industries in Hawke's Bay, Mr Higgins said. The situation faced by the group of disabled workers and Vietnamese refugees had especially concerned, the company.

Those who lose their jobs on December 24 will receive redundancy payments under the terms of Government regulations.