Workers vent anger at Feltex payments

Christchurch workers staged a wildcat strike, saying they felt ripped off. Picture / Simon Baker

Frustrated Feltex workers were waiting to see how the company's new owners would react last night after staging a brief "wildcat" strike to try to get the redundancy payouts they believe they deserve.

More than 100 staff yesterday walked off the job at the Christchurch plant destined to close under new owner Godfrey Hirst, taking with it 134 jobs. A plant at Kakariki is also to close, with the loss of 44 jobs.

Christchurch staff had been offered payments of up of $15,000, but want redundancy payments of up to $70,000 they say they are entitled to.

Negotiations involving Godfrey Hirst and unions were under way in Wellington last night. Yesterday's "sit-in" strike, kicking off at 12.30pm, was an action taken by the workers, but was supported by their unions.

"We feel Godfrey Hirst can come up with a better deal and do the decent thing," said Christchurch worker and union delegate, John Mangan.

"We feel they have got the company for a bargain price and the long-serving people here, and at Kakariki, are getting a raw deal. A lot of the older workers may struggle to find jobs."

Many of the staff were also Feltex shareholders and been hit with a "double whammy", Mr Mangan said.

"We will take it hour by hour and see what the response is from the talks."

Staff returned to work after about six hours.

Mark and Lynn Flanagan will lose their jobs at the Christchurch plant and face an uncertain future.

Mr Flanagan has worked there for 17 years, and his wife for 28.

"The workers have been screwed by big conglomerates. That's the way the country is now. We don't want $15,000, we want all of our redundancy - $15,000 is a drop in the bucket."

Mr Flanagan met his wife at the plant and said they both still felt a special attachment to the place.

"If I had the money, I would buy it myself because I believe in Feltex. I have got a trade behind me, but my wife hasn't. And we have to go and search for jobs.

"We have got each other to support and we support the other workers. It's been stressful but we have got one another."

National Distribution Union national secretary Laila Harre said the Riccarton workers had passed a resolution calling for Godfrey Hirst to pay them their full redundancy.

"There is a lot of anger and anguish out there," she said. "These workers have had tens of thousands of dollars worth of redundancies taken from them on top of being left without jobs."

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union National Secretary Andrew Little said the company needed to behave more responsibly.

"It's an insult for Godfrey Hirst to think they can short-change loyal and longstanding workers."