80 wood industry jobs to go in Auckland plant closure

The National Distribution Union (NDU) is calling for government intervention to save the timber industry following an announcement that another plant will close in December, taking more than 80 jobs with it.

NDU president Robert Reid said the Fletcher Building-owned Plyco Select manufacturing plant in Penrose, Auckland, told workers the company would be closing in mid-December.

"This follows hard on the heels of last week's announcement that 30 workers will lose their jobs when Fletcher Building drops two shifts at its NZ Laminex plant in John Key's Helensville electorate," Mr Reid said.

He said the closures would take job losses at Fletcher Building to more than 700 this year.

A further 300 Carter Holt Harvey employees also face redundancy when mills at Putaruru and Mt Maunganui shut next month.

Mr Reid said the timber industry was suffering from the local and international downturn in the house construction industry and an oversupply of pulp and paper.

- NZPA