Civil construction and roading specialist Fulton Hogan is negotiating with staff on the potential loss of up to 25 jobs from its Dunedin operations - almost 10% of the workforce - because of the tightening economy.
Fulton Hogan regional manager Craig Stewart confirmed the company was talking to staff across all its Dunedin divisions over redundancies, to be completed within several weeks.
"Fulton Hogan's Dunedin operation has been substantially affected by this downturn and as a consequence [it] is consulting with staff to review its management structure and staffing levels," Mr Stewart said yesterday.
There are 260 staff at present at the Dunedin operation, where Fulton Hogan was founded, and Mr Stewart said wherever possible voluntary redundancies and redeployment would be considered.
The company has about 50 locations around New Zealand, including project sites, asphalt facilities and quarries and employs about 4000 people, plus a further 1000 in Australia, but Mr Stewart understood there were no redundancy talks at any other operation.
"We are consulting fully with all staff on the restructuring proposal," Mr Stewart said.
Staff loyalty had always been a strength of the company, he said. However, "we need to protect the future of our Dunedin business and the majority of our staff and their families".
