Oji Fiber Solutions are considering whether he should reduce his business at Kinleith Mill, in Tokoroa.
Photo: Libby Kirkby-McLeod

A final decision is expected on Friday morning if 230 workers will lose their jobs at Kinleith Mill.

A delegate E Tū Union told RNZ that the staff had been called to an outdoor meeting at 8.30 on Tokoroa Mill’s grounds.

In November, Oji Fiber Solutions (OFS) Managing Director Jon Ryder said that the company suggested To simplify Kinleith Mill’s business by focusing on mass and canceling paper production, which he said ran at a loss.

It would mean permanently to turn off the last paper machine, move to a paper import model for packaging operations and up to 230 jobs that run at the end of June.

Ryder said in a statement to RNz this week that the company had been in consultation with staff and their trade union representatives since November.

“We have taken the time to carefully consider all received feedback and expect to announce a decision about or around Friday 14 February. Our priority is to talk to our people first about all proposals decisions,” Ryder said.

The proposed closure came after a year with bad news for New Zealand’s manufacturing, including another Ofs mill closure in Penroseand The closure of Winstone Pulp International’s Tangiwai Sawmill and Karioi Pulpmill.

Several politiciansIncluding New Zealand’s first leader Winston Peters, Minister of Social Development Louise Upston and ex-room Green MP Tamatha Paul, participated in a social meeting in Tokoroa in December To discuss what can be done to save Kinleith.

RNZ was enough for Minister Shane Jones’s office to see what had been achieved since then, but was told that he would not comment until after today’s announcement.

Paul grew up in Tokoroa and said that Jones and Peters made commitments to society at the meeting in December and she wanted to ensure that these commitments were honored.

“If we are satisfied with the result then it is excellent. If that is not the result we wanted, I must apply more pressure within Parliament,” Paul said.

Despite this warning, she kept the hope of a good announcement.

“I would rather that there was a result we all really need, more than political point scoring, so I hope it will be a good announcement.”

E Tū Union negotiator Joe Gallagher said he also tried to remain optimistic.

“It will be either good news or bad news, but I would like to be positive – go there with a positive way of thinking – that there is a will for all parties to expand this process and look at the best options for the site, for the labor force and for the community. “

He said that the union has had a good commitment to the owners since the proposal was announced, but that the workers were quite nervous when waiting for the final decision.

“We have younger members … people want security about their future. Some people have 20-25 years left to work,” he said.

Gallagher believed that Jones and Peters understood the issues involved in closing the paper business in the mill.

“What we need to see is that the entire government falls behind and see to see how they can support Shane, New Zealand first and the labor force to really open a path to the labor force and society.”

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