Yesterday, today and tomorrow, we’re fighting the good fight for the people of Auckland in the House on the Auckland Governance Bill. All Auckland and Labour MPs feel our responsibility strongly, and we are doing our best to take the fight to the government in the House. It’s not over until it’s over and I would suggest that October 2010 is an important date to watch, because by then, mayhem will ensue.
But meanwhile, life goes on for redundant workers : I’ve been talking with Tanya (*not her real name) who contacted me about her situation and here’s her story :
Tanya has worked for Chong Newztel for three years and some of her workmates had been working there for up to 25 years.
In January, she and her workmates were told that the company was up for sale and eventually it was bought by an Australian company, Media Monitors.
The workers were told their jobs were safe and not to worry. At the end of March, they were given a termination notice from Newztel. Tanya received hers on the 26th March and her job was due to end 5 days later on 31 March.
This was despite their contract saying they should be given four weeks notice of redundancy.
The new company came in and offered everyone three month fixed term contracts. The workers were told if they didn’t sign the contracts they could leave immediately because they would be trespassing and they signed, because they believed they had no other option.
They were repeatedly told that Media Monitors could continue to employ them after the three months expired. The workers had no idea what was happening until one morning, at the end of July when the contract expired, managers came around and said “we don’t need any of you”.
The workers were told to pack their bags and go home.
They are now seeking the four weeks notice from Chong Newztel through the Employment Authority.
So, what difference would the Redundancy Protection Bill have made to Tanya and her workmates?
- The four weeks leave would be enforceable.
- Tanya would have been entitled to compensation of 4 weeks pay the first year and another 4 weeks pay for the additional two years she worked for the company.
- Chong Newztel would have had to pay.
So, it will be interesting to listen into the debate about the 6,000 workers whose jobs are at risk under Rodney Hide’s new supercity. Tune in later tonight.
Is there a part of the bill that even mentions those who will lose their jobs?
No, funny that. We will be moving an amendment, but don’t expect the government to support it.
I watched you on Parliament TV, just before midnight, mentioning your proposed amendment. And then I saw Colin King get up and he doesn’t utter one word about those who now face an uncertain future. How surprising.
@Shane – that’s right. In fact, the National government didn’t mention the 6,000 workers whose jobs are at risk in the Auckland supercity once in the 15 hour debate.
from the dom post: “Local government rate rises are a cause for deep concern, according to Business New Zealand, with an “astonishing” 7.9 per cent annual rise in the national rates bill.
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide said last night that local authority spending was out of control and a 7.9 per cent rate rise was not acceptable.
“We need to do much better to get rates under control,” he said.
Statistics New Zealand figures made public yesterday showed general rates rose $242.6 million in the year to June 2008, a rise of almost 8 per cent.
Estimates from Statistics NZ showed the national rates bill rose another $195.8m this year, up about 5.4 per cent.
In five years, the national rates bill has risen by $1.1 billion, about $700m more than if rates had stayed in line with inflation.”
with the super city getting rid of all the double up jobs is one of the many benefits.
why pay 4 people do do a job one can do?
Do we have pay 6000 people do do a 1/4 of a persons job? I know labour are all for more and more public servants but geesh – we cannot continue with rates rising out of control.
Sad for the 6000 people as individuals obviously, but I dont believe that we should pay them if there aren’t jobs for them do to.
Also I believe that this isnt going to be mass reduandanceys but natural churn not being replaced in most roles.
maybe the deal is to rename Auckland to Tamaki Makaurau
Its no wonder alot of kiwis are moving to Aussie!
The Kiwis are moving to Aussie to follow the jobs. When the Australians take over NZ companies, they always fill the top jobs with their own kind, and outsource a whole lot of others to Melbourne or Sydney. The Media Monitors debacle is a good example. The talented, experienced Kiwi workers at Chong where laid off en masse, despite promises to the contrary. It’s only been a matter of months and already Chong’s old clients are complaining about the inferior service that MM is handing out to them. In addition, the NZ workers MM did hire after the takeover were handed the soul-destroying job of listening to Australian talkback stations. And all with the Government and the Commerce Commission’s approval.
National needs to do something about foreign investment laws. They made a big song and dance about ‘iconic companies’ around the time of the Jobs Summit, let they let the very iconic Chong (famous enough to be profiled on National Radio a few years ago) be destroyed by Australians. Kudos to Labour for preventing the Canadian takeover of Auckland Airport last year.