Workers may be forced to use leave on key day

By Keith Perry

Thousands of Auckland city employees may be forced to lose a day's paid leave during the Apec conference next month.

Unions say some firms in the CBD are already insisting that workers stay at home at their own expense to avoid traffic chaos on Monday, September 13, the only normal working day that falls within the period of the leaders' conference.

But rather than being allowed to work from home, employers were likely to insist that the day was taken as holiday leave, even though most employees received an average of three weeks' holiday a year compared with five weeks in Europe, the unions said.

Some lower-paid employees, such as office cleaners, feared they would simply be told they were not needed on the Monday and lose a day's pay.

The Financial Sector Union said that while it supported the move to keep staffing to a minimum in banks and other city institutions, early indications were that firms would deduct the time from holiday entitlement.

"It's going to be an absolute nightmare for staff getting into the CBD area and also returning home at the end of the day, and we support employees being kept at home for that day," said union spokesman Paul Goulter.

"But the issue is whether it comes off a day's holiday or employer gratitude. Unfortunately, we are very cynical that employers are going to be generous."

Phil Beilby, a spokesman for the Health and Disability Commissioner, said the office was still negotiating with staff on the issue and no decision had been reached on whether staff would be forced to take the time off as paid leave.

But Alasdair Thompson, of the Auckland Employers and Manufacturers' Association, said last night that there was no evidence whatsoever that firms were putting the squeeze on employees.

Some staff had already arranged to take a week's annual leave to coincide with the event.

"It is up to firms to stagger working times with staff to enable them to avoid problems getting to work and where possible allow them to work from home. It just takes a bit of planning and forethought to do things reasonably and amicably."

Police spokeswoman Robyn Orchard said they had advised companies to look at a range of options, such as four 10-hour days for that week or carpools for staff.