Tiwai Point workers reject redundancy plan

Press, 5 September 1987, Page 14

Tiwai Point workers reject redundancy plan

PA Invercargill Workers at the Tiwai Point smelter have voted to reject New Zealand Aluminium Smelter’s redundancy offer, aimed at reducing the workforce by 120, a union spokesman said. The workers moved to reject any loss of jobs and to support senior dele* gates and union officials in any action they deem necessary in negotiating the redundancy issue, the convenor of combined unions at Tiwai, Mr Danny Cairns, said. His statement came at the end of a four-hour meeting in Invercargill, attended by most of the smelter workers. Mr Cairns would not comment on what action

might be taken by the union in negotiating the matter. The package offered by the smelter is eight weeks pay for the first year of employment, three weeks’ pay for each other year of employment, and six weeks notice. Under the offer, a worker who chooses not to work out his six-week notice would effectively receive 14 weeks pay for the first year of employment, as well as three weeks pay for each other year. The company has identified 90 wage worker and 30 staff positions it wants to reduce. The acting general manager of operations at TJwai Point, Mr Tom

Campbell, said management had never expected the move to reduce staff to be popular. “Job losses are always a bitter pill to swallow, but the reasons behind the exercise will not go away.”