Sallies to shut some stores

By STEPHEN FORBES

Some of the Salvation Army's Red Shield stores in Auckland will close, with up to 50 distribution depot staff facing possible redundancy.

An internal memo says the chain of 19 stores in the city will be offered to the relevant Salvation Army corps or church or face closure.

The army's territorial headquarters will hand over the running and resources of Red Shield stores to the Northern Divisional Headquarters from next June 30.

Major Ross Gower said it was too early to say if there would be redundancies. The army had no further comment on the issue and would not elaborate on the reasons behind the memo.

The manager of the Glen Innes op-shop, Pauline Kenworthy, expects to be out of work next month.

"From November 30 the shop shuts and I'm unemployed," she said.

"I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about the community."

Mrs Kenworthy said her employment contract and those of the other workers had no redundancy clauses.

A customer of the Glen Innes shop, David Gardner, said the store was important to the community.

"The shops have always been here and it's been good for the community."

Mr Gardner was angry at the army's plans.

"I think they are money-hungry. They have no interest bar getting a profit out of these shops. They're a cold, unChristian-like business."

A process worker from the Morningside depot said management had told them not to speak to the media.

"We want the top people in management from Auckland and Wellington to come and speak to us because we aren't getting answers.

"Some of us have been here 18 years. I feel we're getting a raw deal and it's not on."

Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson said if the closures went ahead there would be added pressure on voluntary social agencies.

"The City Mission and the Salvation Army are the two largest providers of clothing and furniture to families in need," she said.

The secondhand shops run by the Auckland City Mission, the Sallies and other social groups were used to finance social services.

"If the chainstores are closed it will put pressure on our services," said Mrs Robertson.

Andrew Little, national secretary of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, said he believed the Salvation Army had taken its cue to notify staff from the introduction of the Employment Relations Act.

"I have to say in fairness to the Salvation Army that they have acted in good faith so far."

He said the fact that the workers did not have redundancy clauses was not surprising.

Green MP Sue Bradford said the closures would affect low-income people and families right across the region.