September 10, 2013

Media Release

Bic to end manufacturing in New Zealand

Bic is proposing to end manufacturing in New Zealand and import pens from overseas instead, workers at its Auckland plant have been told.

The company will now enter into a one week consultation period with staff, but it is expected around 19 jobs will be gone by early next year.

The EPMU’s manufacturing industry organiser, Louisa Jones, says the proposed closure will have a huge impact on staff, many of whom have worked at the factory for decades.

“Most workers at Bic are long-serving and they have been incredibly loyal and dedicated, so this is a real shock for them.

“It’s going to be very hard to find similar work given the state the manufacturing sector is in. Over the last four years, 40,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared and we know from experience that many of these workers have ended up in low paid, insecure service jobs.

“We want to see the Government support the manufacturing sector and promote fair employment laws so that when people are made redundant they have good, secure jobs to move into.

“The EPMU will do everything it can to make sure Bic lives up to its responsibilities as an employer. These are the people who have made Bic’s product and built its brand in New Zealand over the last four decades, and they deserve to be treated right.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media