Job losses on Coast may hit many more

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 3

Job losses on Coast may hit many more

Greymouth reporter A total job loss of 481 predicted for the West Coast in the coming year in Government departments could lead to 1795 people being affected, said the West Coast United Council in a survey released yesterday. A survey on projected job losses in restructured Government departments and organisations was prepared by Miss Taryn Bell, the United Council’s research officer. Miss Bell said that the initial total job loss of 481 could affect a further 423 jobs directly and indirectly. Every job lost meant 0.986 dependents were directly or indirectly af-

fected, giving a total of 1795 persons. Based on projected totals 2105 persons or 15.7 per cent of the present regional labour force on the West Coast could be unemployed by next year.

Miss Bell said: “These estimates are considered conservative given that projected job loss totals for most Government agencies are as yet unknown or are uncertain.” The loss of 904 jobs represented 6.7 per cent of the regional labour force, in addition 9 per cent of the labour force (1201) were unemployed in January. Other sectors were suffering, which would add to the over-all impact on

the region. She gave as examples the Westland Catchment Board, losing six employees by June, and the International Panel and Lumber company at Gladstone, planning to shed up to 30 employees. Miss Bell said that the losses were predicted ones for the coming year, and did not include previous losses such as Railways redundancies, including guards and workshop staff. If the Government’s population-based funding policy was implemented to its full extent on the West Coast, the Hospital Board had predicted that 171 full-time equivalent jobs could be lost by next

year. (The board is opposed to the system, and has already announced that it will not reduce staff, the size of its hospitals or their operations.) The Marine Division of the Ministry of Transport in Westport was uncertain of its future given that the Government was negotiating with local authorities to take over control of the harbour. “The uncertainty lies in if, and how many of, the employees would be needed, given a change on control,” said Miss Bell. Uncertainty surrounding the fishing industry and the new quota controls was a big concern.