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Westin Hotel workers, organised by the Unite Union, have vowed to fight for every job, as the news hit them that there are to be over 100 redundancies follwing a dispute between owners KordaMentha and Nigel McKenna's Melview, and will put the hotel under picket line today (Thursday 2nd Sept) at 3pm.

"These workers are asked to pay the price for a dispute between two wealthy and powerful groups. Many of these oversea investors have never even visited this hotel, yet its Auckland's workers who must pay the price for their greed. The workers say enough." said Unite Union's Campaigns Officer Joe Carolan.

"No redundancy pay has been offered to people who have given long years of loyal service- many workers have young families to support, and some are pregnant. It is morally repugnant that these hard working people are now thrown on the scrapheap without any assistance , whilst Canterbury Finance is bailed out by a billion dollars of tax payers money."

"The workers have resolved to fight for their jobs, and call on the Government and Auckland's community leaders to intervene with the same urgency afforded Canterbury Finance. Real jobs in the hotel sector, in the run up to the World Cup, are more important than the greed of bankers, investors and property pyramid speculators".

Unite Union's Hotel Organiser, Desmond Leota says-
"Workers are prepared to stand and fight, and occpuy this hotel if necessary. We will see them get justice".

View reports on the picket and the dispute:
Stuff video
One News
NZ Herald
Stuff