Eight jobs lost at Far North lines company

Top Energy linemen at work near Haruru Falls. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Far North lines company Top Energy is asking staff to take voluntary redundancy after cutting the number of workers it plans to lay off from 17 to eight.

However, if eight volunteers can't be found the company will start a selection process to decide which jobs will go. A final decision is due on April 20.

Top Energy announced last month it planned to cut up to 17 jobs, mostly from the Puketona and Kaitaia depots.

Chief executive Russell Shaw said the layoffs were necessary because of a downturn in contracting work in the Pacific, the near completion of a major network upgrade, and new health and safety rules which had forced the company to change the way it carried out live line maintenance.

The consultation period was extended by a week at the request of the union E Tu, with the decision to lay off eight staff announced this week. The affected positions are in management, field services, administration, construction and planning functions.

Mr Shaw said the company had explored different options but redundancies were unavoidable. Some roles would be transferred from contracting services into the network team and the company had vacancies staff could be redeployed to - but there weren't enough vacancies for everyone.

The cuts would not affect the reliability of the Far North's power supply or the number of staff on standby, he said.

Offers of employment had come in from other lines and contracting companies, including North Power, Horizon, Delta, Electricity Ashburton and Rintoul Civil. With the exception of Rintoul Civil, however, none were in the Far North.

E Tu power industry organiser Joe Gallagher had urged Top Energy to call off its plans after a lineman was seriously injured by falling from a ladder during a storm last month. The union said the accident coincided with members' concerns about fatigue but the company said the hurt lineman had been properly rested.

Mr Gallagher said he was pleased the company had reduced the number of jobs to be cut, and that it had put in place a fatigue management policy.

"But we're still concerned ... with a reduced workforce there's an increased risk."