Quake-hit workers worried about pay

Prime Minister John Key surveying earthquake damage on Saturday. Photo /Simon Baker

Workers are worried about loss of pay in the wake of Saturday's massive Christchurch earthquake.

Many central city businesses cannot open until the damage from the earthquake is fully assessed and buildings deemed safe.

Unions will work with government, business and the community in response to the magnitude 7.1 quake, the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) said today.

"These are exceptional circumstances and we hope that the Government will be mindful of that as it considers what sort of support can be made available to the community including workers and employers affected," CTU president Helen Kelly said.

She said the CTU had been in contact during the weekend with Canterbury union officials, Canterbury Employers Chambers of Commerce, as well as the Labour Department and Ministry of Social Development.

A number of employers had reassured workers about being paid if they could not work and letting staff spend time with their families, said Kelly.

The council said it was also concerned about issues including emergency benefits, pressures on resources and labour, and whether or not some firms would survive.

Unite Union's Christchurch branch has received many calls and text from workers worried that they will not be paid for the working days they will lose as the city centre shuts down to recover.

"We are very worried that some employers will seek to withhold payment for work that employees were rostered to do over the weekend," Unite's Christchurch organiser Matt Jones said.

"John Key will bail out property owners and big business using state cash but he should provide instant cash relief to Christchurch's struggling working population," Jones said.

- NZPA