Plans to reduce staff upset unions

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 8

Plans to reduce staff upset unions

PA Hamilton A drive by the management of the Tasman Pulp and Paper mill at Kawarau for new work routines to prune staff through natural attrition was criticised by union spokesmen yesterday. The secretary of the Northern Federation of Pulp and Paper Workers, the plant’s largest union, Mr John Murphy, said that it was an invitation to reduce the plant’s workforce. The secretary of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Union, Mr Ray Hamilton, said it would lead to “complete industrial unrest.” . Staff at the mill have

been told that some of them will have to go before an expected downturn in the newsprint industry in a few years time. Natural attrition should be all that was needed for a reduction in “an excess of people” to fit in with new practices, and an aim for greater efficiency, according to the managing director, Mr Garry Mace. Meetings with representatives of the 3000 workforce began on Thursday. But Mr Murphy said that the company’s announcement of a series of on-site work routine discussions amounted to an invitation to

participate in the reduction of the 1900 employees. “As far as I am concerned there is a flat ‘no’ to that,” said Mr Murphy. Mr Murphy said that Tasman — a Fletcher Challenge operation — owed New Zealanders “quite a lot,” including job creation. It had enjoyed cheap bulk electricity, the cheapest tree stumpage rates in the world, and had been responsible for turning a beautiful river virtually into a sewer.

Kawerau was dependent on the Tasman mill and the mood of its residents was mort fearful in view of the

impact of past strikes, he said.

Mr G. S. Ogilvie, the director of operations for the Tasman company, said that the company hoped that discussions would lead to an accord with its employees by the middle of next year, it was reported from Rotorua. As Tasman’s workforce gradually declined over the next few years, the promotion of new job opportunities in Kawerau was essential, he said.

Already the company had announced a forestry skills training scheme for school leavers.