Taranaki drilling workers want certainty about their jobs before Christmas

The union representing oil and exploration workers, the EPMU, wants an appeal against a Taranaki drilling company's consent fast-tracked so that workers have some certainty about what's happening with their jobs in the run up to Christchurch.

Ensign contracts to TAG Oil in the Taranaki, performing exploration and drilling work. As a result of an appeal against a TAG Oil drilling consent, up to 20 EPMU members who work for Ensign have been given seven days notice of redundancy.

EPMU organiser, Ross Henderson, says TAG Oil was not prepared to pay a daily retainer to Ensign to allow EPMU members to be continued to be employed while the appeal was being decided by the local Regional Council.

"There is never a good time for our members to be made redundant. However being this close to Christmas it is really hard on members and their families," says Henderson. "TAG Oil & Ensign run the risk of losing a skilled and experienced work force by not agreeing to keep these valuable workers on the payroll and we can only hope that the Council considers this appeal quickly and it is decided before Christmas."

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