Receiverships show construction needs protecting

May 27, 2009
Joint Media Release

Kawarau receiverships show construction jobs need protecting

Concerns about the future of Kawarau Falls Station show the need for increased union membership in the construction sector to ensure workers are not left to bear the brunt in the recession-hit industry, say the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and the New Zealand Building Trades Union.

The call follows an announcement that two of the main companies behind the project are facing receivership – a situation that is causing concern for the 500 jobs the project is currently providing.

While neither unions have members on the site the announcement comes on the eve of a joint union project to organise the building industry in the Central Otago area.

NZBTU national secretary Dave O’Connell says that it is increasingly important for construction workers to get organised.

“When building companies go into receivership there is often very little fallback for their workers in terms of redundancy or consultation unless they are in a union and as we head further into the recession it will be the workers that shoulder the brunt of the uncertainty that comes with it.

“One of the key moves any worker can make to increase the security and protection they have in their jobs at the moment is to get organised through their union and negotiate fair terms and conditions including a redundancy package so they can ensure they have some kind of fallback if the worst comes to the worst.”

EPMU Central Otago organiser Mike Kirwood agrees.

“There’s been a tendency toward a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude in the building industry over the last boom but it’s becoming increasingly clear that there needs to be more employment stability in the industry if it is to be sustainable in terms of jobs and skills.

“We’ll be launching a joint project with the NZBTU in the near future that specifically targets the Central Otago building industry with the intention of increasing union membership and pushing for better terms and conditions such as decent regular pay increases and fair redundancy packages.”

The EPMU will be opening an office in Alexandra in July to increase representation of both EPMU and NZBTU members as the two unions move toward a formal regional amalgamation.

ENDS

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