25 Mar 2013

Union says loss of 54 TAB jobs confirmed

10:45 am on 25 March 2013

The union representing workers at a TAB call centre in Auckland says a Racing Board plan to sell its Ellerslie building and shed 54 jobs has been confirmed.

Last week the board floated a proposal to sell the building; the Service and Food Workers Union says that plan was confirmed on Sunday to the workers.

The agency says selling the building and moving some of the jobs to its Wellington and Christchurch centres will save up to $1 million a year.

Union spokesperson Len Richards says moving workers would be detrimental to their well-being.

Mr Richards says the agency is focusing on the money side of things rather than its employees, and more could have been done to keep the jobs in Auckland.