KiwiRail job losses another hit to Dunedin economy

The announcement that 11 Dunedin KiwiRail staff face redundancy is not only another blow to the region’s economy, but adds to concerns around the safety of the rail network, Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran says.

“Every time a job is lost in the Dunedin manufacturing sector our economy takes another hit.

“And every time another KiwiRail worker is made redundant there’s one less person to ensure vital repair and maintenance work is carried out on the track.

“The Government should be supporting job creation and prioritising these jobs.

“Yet all we are seeing is National making one bad decision after another in regards to KiwiRail, with the pending sale or possible closure of Hillside workshops; the dodgy and low quality manufacturing coming out of China; and this latest round of redundancies.

“When is the Government going to realise that the manufacturing industry is the backbone of our economy?

“Like the 200 West Coast miners and the 100 aluminium smelter workers at Tiwai Point, every job that is lost at KiwiRail is evidence of the Government having no plan for the economy.

“Kiwis are losing their jobs because of National’s bad decision-making, and in turn those job losses hurt local communities.

“The worst thing is, is that they are completely unnecessary.” Clare Curran said.