"The last day of work at Godfrey Hirst’s Feltex mill in Foxton is a tragedy for its 80 workers and the local community,” said Robert Reid, President of the National Distribution Union.
The NDU represents almost all workers at the Foxton carpet mill who are being made redundant with the closure of the plant today.
“Although Godfrey Hirst is responsible for the closure, the anger of workers and their community is also directed at the wheelers and dealers from the private equity companies and banks who destroyed the once proud and iconic Feltex company and got away with more than $250 million of the wealth of the company that its workers had generated over many years," said Robert Reid.
"It is interesting that the day that the closures of the Feltex Feilding and Foxton plants were announced on 7 March 2008, Feltex shareholders announced they were taking action against Feltex former directors for $254 million. The week that Feltex Foxton finally closes its gate that court case has started in Christchurch,” he said.
Following the announcement of the closures, the NDU has worked with the company, Work and Income and other agencies to try and ensure that redundant workers receive all the assistance possible for re-training and job-search skills.
“We are pleased that of the 80 workers made redundant at Feilding 5 months ago, only 4 have needed to go onto a benefit,” Robert Reid said.
“However it will be much more difficult for Foxton workers as they live further away from the economically buoyant Palmerson North and the job market has contracted over the last few months.
Some workers in Foxton are already frustrated that the only jobs that are offered are asparagus picking and other poorly paid seasonal work.
The NDU calls for a concerted community effort to ensure that as many workers as possible are placed in permanent and decent paying work,” Robert Reid said.
