Clare Curran
MP for Dunedin South

27 November 2012

Local economy suffers as more jobs are shed

The 25 jobs lost in at O’Brien Group in Mosgiel are another blow to the Dunedin economy, says Dunedin South MP Clare Curran.

O’Brien’s Benchtops Ltd in Mosgiel made all 50 of its workers redundant on Friday, re-employing just 25 staff.

“Today’s announcement of the redundancies at O’Brien Group will hit the Mosgiel community hard and will cause real hardship for those workers’ families in the lead up to Christmas.

“I am concerned that this will force 25 more families to move away from Mosgiel and Dunedin to find work. These are productive members of our community and many will have school-aged children. Ordinary families are hurting and National isn’t lifting a finger to help.

“The latest job losses, coupled with the loss of 90 jobs at Hillside, will leave a gaping hole in the Dunedin economy. And it is likely that this is not the end of it.

“This is happening far too often with job losses announced every week. Many of those are in good manufacturing and exporting jobs. That’s sending more and more Kiwis to Australia to earn a living.

“Part of the problem is our overvalued currency, which is hitting the bottom lines of exporters and manufacturers.

“The roll-call of communities hit by job losses keeps growing: Kawerau, Greymouth, Huntly, Waihi, Wellington, Invercargill, Dunedin, South Auckland and Christchurch to name just a few.

“National’s stagnant economy isn’t working for ordinary New Zealanders and more and more Kiwis are realising it. They are letting our country down.

“I am hopeful that this business will thrive once again, but that’s cold comfort for these families without jobs who will be struggling in the lead up to Christmas,” Clare Curran says.

ENDS

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