Unions Given Assurance Feltex Business as Usual Until Sale

Press Release: National Distribution Union

Friday, 22 September 2006 11:50am

Unions Given Assurance Feltex Business as Usual Until Sale

Despite disappointment with the ANZ bank Feltex receivership, the National Distribution Union is confident the carpet workers jobs are safe in the short-term.

The National Distribution Union represents 700+ Feltex workers with the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union representing the companies 45 maintenance workers.

National Secretary Laila Harre said that the ANZ bank had not acted well.

"We are not impressed with the behavior of the ANZ bank," she said. "Had the bank given the Turner brothers enough time to conclude their offer the company may have remained in New Zealand hands."

"Both the NDU and the EPMU have been in contact with the receiver and there is an assurance that all operations will run as per usual until the company is sold. In the meantime we will seek discussions with potential buyers and prepare to negotiate for a new collective agreement for the workers."

PROGRESSIVE DISTRIBUTION WORKERS SUPPORT FELTEX WORKERS

Ms Harre said that Auckland Progressive workers heard about the receivership as they marched back to work this morning and sent a delegation of 50 union members to the local Otahuhu ANZ bank in solidarity.

In Christchurch, the NDU and EPMU distribution worker drove to the Feltex Christchurch manufacturing plant to join the workers who held a "lock-in" in their canteen that they had occupied waiting for the receiver to arrive.

Ms Harre said that the distribution workers were showing solidarity with fellow union members who had donated money to the locked out families fund.

The Auckland distribution workers also thanked the Otahuhu ANZ branch workers who had also made donations after their picket.

ENDS

Feltex employs 785 staff at yarn spinning plants in Lower Hutt (200), Feilding (85), Dannevirke (150) , a woven carpet manufacturing plant in Christchurch (170), a scouring plant in Kakariki (45) and a tufted carpet plant in Foxton (135). The company also employes 45 staff in sales and administration.

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