Job losses ‘devastating’ news for staff
RCR Energy told the 49 staff at its Dannevirke boiler manufacturing plant that jobs would need to be cut to keep the plant afloat, E tu¯ union organiser Laurel Reid said on Tuesday morning.
RCR Energy general manager Johnny Watson visited the Dannevirke plant on Tuesday to outline what the proposed job losses would entail in Dannevirke. Following this announcement, the HR manager is now working with staff through the process of disestablishment of a number of roles at the plant. Johnny assured staff the management are doing everything in their power to keep the doors open and keep the majority of staff employed.
Despite earlier reassurances jobs at Dannevirke’s RCR Energy would be safe, the news some staff are likely to lose their jobs is a devastating blow.
“This is absolutely devastating news,” Tararua District mayor Tracey Collis said. “To lose your job at anytime of the year isn’t good, but this news coming at this time of the year so close to Christmas just adds to the stress levels for families.”
However, Collis said she hoped opportunities could be found for the staff locally.
“The staff at RCR Energy have highly technical skills, but we’ve some wonderful engineering companies in our district, it’s what we are known for,” she said.
“The Tararua Business Network is here and will help RCR and the affected staff in whatever way they can.”
“Workers were reeling after the company announced pending job losses related to its Australian parent company RCR Tomlinson being put into administration,” Reid said.
RCR Energy in Dannevirke employs 49 workers, including management and support roles.
“This is a massive blow for the workers and the small community of Dannevirke.”
Details of the redundancies are expected to be announced this coming week, “but for some, it won’t be good news and it’s through no fault of their own”, she said.
Reid said the union and workers understood the cuts are related to the RCR Energy’s parent company RCR Tomlinson going through liquidation.
RCR Tomlinson was one of two companies awarded a joint venture contract to build Auckland’s City Rail Link, but it was placed in a trading halt on November 12, before being put into administration nine days later.
Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott said it was up to politicians to ensure the economy was robust and moving.
“It’s a bugger for those affected. Losing your job anytime, especially before Christmas, isn’t good. [But] I’m sure those affected will get jobs.”