NZ Steel’s Pipe and Hollows Plant has told workers that they are undertaking a restructure which could see the end of their jobs at the plant for most workers.
The 60 workers affected would have to be redeployed elsewhere, or face having no job at all.
Delegate Lance Gush, a NZ Steel worker for 14 years, says this would be a blow to their families and the wider the Waiuku community.
“On Tuesday, even under the new Level 3 restrictions, the team embraced returning to work. We were happy to get back to some normality for ourselves and our families.
“We’re a team of 60 with people from five months to forty five years of experience at the plant. We were glad to be back this week, doing work we’re proud of, with assurance from management to push forward.
“By Thursday afternoon, we were confronted with a proposal that shook all of that completely.”
Lance is concerned about the impact the restructure will have on a community already bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis.
“I have workmates with young families, who have already experienced the job loss of one parent. Now with this announcement, they’ve found both Mum and Dad’s employment balancing on a knife edge.”
Lance says that retaining their jobs isn’t just about the workers and their families but also the future of the New Zealand economy.
“There is an opportunity for the Government to invest in the future of our country and stimulate our economy by supporting and utilising our domestic products, resources and workforce.”
E tū Negotiation Specialist Joe Gallagher says there’s much more that we should be doing to support NZ steel and the wider manufacturing industry.
“From pit to port, it’s time to support local steel production,” Joe says.
“We need to be creating a level playing field so that New Zealand isn’t constantly undercut by cheap steel imports.
“We know the long and often distressing history of manufacturing here. Let’s beginning turning it all around.”
Joe says that the Government should take this opportunity to fix the problems in manufacturing, as part of rebuilding better after COVID-19.
“E tū has just launched a new campaign, Rebuild Better, outlining the way forward for New Zealand during and after the global pandemic.
“One of our key principles is the need to keep and create decent jobs. These workers at NZ Steel love their jobs, and they should really be protected by our industry planning.
“We will rebuild better, and we’ll rebuild with New Zealand made steel.”
The Etu union claims environmental responsibility. Steel production is one of the most energy-consuming and CO2 emitting industrial activities in the world. Close it down.
Sounds like NZ losing more basic home-made supplies and skills, Last century’s efforts to build us into a going concern, with people working in their own country making stuff here and importing extra has been completely trashed by the bloody middle-class Labour party full of smart-talking lawyers, and social climbers with class obsessions and pretensions. Is there any chance of getting the new, revised cohort to get behind skilled workers and industries that produce basic materials?
The smallness of minds, the lack of overview of the country’s economic and social health, and the idea of leaving all the action to the whims and greed of business squeezing profit out of the country and using it for what and where? Not to do good things in New Zealand for us or in the world for local inhabitants wherever their eyes settled and could see an opportunity to utilise for their own benefit.
The smallness of minds, the impossibility of dealing with people who can’t be reasoned with, brought a laugh in Fawlty Towers. This link isn’t relevant really but we need to take a break FTTT as our country and nation falls apart, going forward.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43-7fGKKg2s
If NZ steel is the best steel for NZ then customers will choose it over other types of steel WITHOUT government support or regulations forcing them to do so.
When you are working on small margins then best is not always viable. Government officials both under Labour and National have driven down prices by taking the lowest tender and not checking why it is low. There are many examples in Chch rebuild of poor quality steel used and costly remedial work needed to be done paid for by the ratepayer. I support a private market but regulations are needed to keep businesses honest especially in cut throat businesses like building.
This shut down is just the start of job losses the will stem from the lockdown. Owners will be weighing up the cost of doing business for the next 2-3 years under the new rules and some will pull the pin before the debts get bigger. The loans offered by the government are to little to late for many.
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