Brocker staff consider action

By PETER GRIFFIN

Employees made redundant in the restructuring of IT company Brocker Technology are considering legal action against the company.

Around 40 Brocker staff were made redundant in February as part of company restructuring that was accelerated after accounting irregularities were discovered at its Australian computer distribution business.

Wellington employment relations firm Lingard Labour Markets said it was organising legal representation for a group seeking compensation from Brocker and had advised others seeking to take their case to the Employment Relations Authority.

Lingard Labour Markets yesterday ran an advertisement in the Herald appealing to former Brocker employees to come forward as they "may be entitled to claim personal grievance compensation for unjustified dismissal."

Director Rod Lingard says those sacked were asked to leave the day news of the job cuts came, staff were not consulted before the decision and sacked employees were given no opportunity for input into restructuring plans.

Brocker's communication manager, Nigel Murphy, said tough decisions had been made to ensure the company's survival.

Mediation between Brocker and former employees took place last Friday but no headway was made.