Media release: FIRST Union
Thursday 31 January, 2013

Industrial Action At Auckland Distribution Centre

Workers at an Auckland book and magazine distribution centre have started industrial action today, after talks over their employment agreement broke down.

Around 23 workers at PMP Group owned Gordon & Gotch in Wiri have today gone on strike.

FIRST Union Transport & Logistics Secretary Karl Andersen said at issue was a company proposal to cut back workers’ entitlement to redundancy compensation.

“These are very uncertain times for workers. Unemployment has shot up to over 7 per cent, and workers at Gordon & Gotch are rightly looking to keep in place provisions that provide security for them.”

“Redundancy compensation is there to protect workers and their ability to provide for their families in the event they lose their jobs. It is a questionable act for Gordon & Gotch to try and cut away at these provisions.”

“We are hopeful of being able to resume talks to conclude these negotiations, and urge the company to withdraw their proposal to cut back redundancy rights.”

The industrial action started today and was indefinite, Karl Andersen said.

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The National Distribution Union and Finsec joined forces in October 2011 to form New Zealand’s newest union – FIRST. The union represents 27,000 people working in Finance, Industrial (Textile and Wood) Retail, Stores & Transport. http://firstunion.org.nz

www.firstunion.org.nz

ENDS

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