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The EPMU says prospects for 150 workers who have lost their jobs with the closure of APN Print in Manukau yesterday are not looking good in the current economic climate.

"The closure of APN Print in Manukau yesterday is the latest setback in the print sector," says EPMU print and media national industry organiser Louisa Jones.

"PMP Print in Warkworth announced last month they will close their print facility there in 2011 putting 120 people out of work," she says.

"That means 270 jobs are being lost in and around Auckland in the print sector, with more jobs likely to go in the sector as technology changes and more work moves to the Internet."

"When Webstar opens a new print facility in South Auckland next year we estimate they will employ only 50 people. Even if 50 out of the 270 pick up work there, that leaves 220 people who have either lost their job at APN Print or facing redundancy at PMP Print in Warkworth."

"Simply not enough jobs are being created in the print sector to offset these latest losses."

"New Zealand is now at serious risk of losing skilled workers in this high technology sector which means more print work is likely to go overseas."

"The least the government could do is to commit to keeping its print contracts in New Zealand to safeguard Kiwi workers' jobs."

In his opening address at the Job Summit last year (27/02/09) John Key said, "Each of us can do something that could save someone's job ... What you do counts. It counts for Kiwi jobs. And those jobs count for real people. They matter for the families and loved ones who depend on them."