October 23, 2013
Union welcomes iwi concern for forestry kaimahi
The FIRST Union is welcoming a desire by iwi to participate in an upcoming review of the forestry sector.
Spokesperson Rawiri Daniels says since the government won’t hold a review of deaths in the industry, the unions have agreed to work with the Forest Owners Association and forest contractors on a wide-ranging review.
As well as health and safety, it will look at work conditions, employment practices, pay scales and hours of work.
"The other side of that is we are also working with iwi now who have come out and said we want to work with the unions because it’s important we get not just the industry sector perspective but they get the kaimahi perspective as well. That’s where we are working at the moment. We’re certainly getting a lot of support and a lot of good iwi are coming on board and helping to promote health and safety and looking at the culture that is going on at the moment," Mr Daniels says.
He says the closure of the Tachikawa sawmill in Rotorua with the loss of 120 jobs is symptomatic of the lack of government strategy that is holding back the industry.
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