Feltex staff work and hope

National Distribution Union organiser John Seggie (left) and shift delegate Ken Edmonds were with workers at the Lower Hutt plant yesterday. Picture / Mark Mitchell

The axe hangs over the jobs of about 850 Feltex employees in New Zealand, but they are still working - and hoping the embattled carpet company finds a buyer that will keep them on.

The two unions covering about 700 of the workers - the Nation Distribution Union and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union - were quick to condemn the ANZ bank when it placed Feltex and its Australian subsidiaries into receivership yesterday morning.

In scenes repeated in Feltex plants nationwide, receivers arrived at the Lower Hutt woollen spinning yarn plant about 9am to meet factory managers and union delegates.

Workers angry over being kept in the dark about the company's future resolved to stay on-site until they were told what was happening.

The receivers assured them of their jobs and pay in the short term while they tried to find a buyer.

But with no guarantees, workers now face further uncertainty.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions, but we're guaranteed pay, so on that basis the workers will return to work," said NDU national Feltex organiser Bob Brough.

"We're vulnerable, but at least now we've got some information."

He said Feltex's brand would be a strong selling point and staff were optimistic about a sale.

"But whether that will result in the same number of jobs and the same terms and conditions, we're not quite so optimistic."

Ken Edmonds, afternoon shift delegate at the Lower Hutt plant, said entire household incomes were now facing the chop, as married couples made up half of the plant's 180 factory-floor staff.

He was surprised when the receivers turned up at the plant.

"It was quite unexpected. For me and my partner, if we lost our jobs we would lose our house, we would lose everything. We're not getting any younger."

He said about 80 per cent of staff had been working there for at least a decade.

Meanwhile, Feltex workers at the Christchurch plant were buoyed by the arrival and support of about 40 Progressive Enterprises workers, who were just returning to work after a month-long lock-out.

The mood quickly became jovial as an impromptu cricket game broke out.

"There wasn't a lot else to do at that point," Mr Brough said.

Progressive workers in Auckland also took action and marched to the local Otahuhu ANZ bank in solidarity.

As well as plants in Lower Hutt and Christchurch, which has 180 workers, Feltex employs 45 staff at a scouring plant at Kakariki near Marton, 85 staff at a plant in Feilding, 135 staff at a plant manufacturing tufted carpet in Foxton, and 150 staff at a plant in Dannevirke. None of the figures include management.

Tararua Mayor Maureen Reynolds said the potential loss of 150 jobs at Dannevirke's plant would be disastrous. "I feel the workers have been treated very poorly."

NDU Wanganui organiser Kaye Hearfield said workers had to maintain business as usual.

"They just have to keep working. It's been frustrating for workers because we've waited over a week to find out what was happening. But it's out of their hands now."