April 07, 2016
Concern for NZ Post staff and bank stake sold
The union representing many NZPost workers says they need to be looked after as the company moves to new forms of business.
E Tu organiser Joe Gallagher says the sale of 45 percent of Kiwibank to the Accident Compensation Corporation and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund indicates the company has given up waiting for the National Government to put up additional capital to allow the bank to grow.
He says a fall in postal volumes means NZPost has to turn itself into a courier and logistics business with a banking arm.
That means changes for the workforce.
"There's still a large proportion of Maori and Pacific island here because it's been a generational employer, people have gone there, their kids have gone there. I went to a retirement party for a guy last week, he had been there for 63 years, so you have opeople with that length of service who have helped grow the business. I actually started at Post in the 80s, I was on the walk, so I have seen Post modernise and grow as a business with its people," Mr Gallagher says.
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