November 8, 2012

Media Release

Dynamic Controls to close NZ manufacturing operations

Christchurch-based Dynamic Controls has informed workers it intends to close its New Zealand manufacturing operations at a cost of 40-60 jobs due to the tough global economic environment.

Dynamic Controls and the EPMU will now enter into consultation over the proposals, with a final announcement expected from the company next week.

EPMU manufacturing industry organiser Louisa Jones says: “Dynamic Controls is an innovative, high tech company that’s provided employment in Christchurch for the last 40 years and this is obviously a very sad day for our members.

“Given the mounting number of factory closures and redundancies we’re seeing at the moment it’s not going to be easy for our members to find similar work, but we’re hopeful there may be some opportunities for retraining and redeployment and we’ll be raising this in the consultation.

“Coming just two days after Rakon announced 60 redundancies, this announcement is yet another blow to a sector already in crisis.”

All EPMU members at Dynamic Controls are entitled to redundancy compensation as part of their collective agreement.

Statistics New Zealand figures show there are now 40,000 fewer jobs in the manufacturing sector than there were in 2008.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

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