Worker's wife writes open letter to Fletcher Building chief executive Ross Taylor

Monday, 6 April 2020

This open letter to Fletcher Building chief executive Ross Taylor, written by the wife of an employee, has been supplied to Stuff.

Dear Ross,

As I write this, we have $23 in our bank account.

We've had to be very careful with this money all of last week.

It had to last until this evening, which is when, as you know, the Fletchers staff are paid out their usual fortnightly pay on a Monday.

Fletcher Building chief executive Ross Taylor, whose salary including benefits was $5.3 million last year, will take a 15 per cent pay cut over three months.

In terms of groceries, we need milk and bread. Oh, and there is a medical bill due soon as well, so we will have to decide what is more important. I think the bill is only due in a few days, luckily. We will probably go for the milk and bread.

Fletcher Building reported an annual profit after-tax of $164 million for the year ending June 2019.

* Fletcher Building staff say they feel pressured by short consultation timeframe

* Fletcher proposes 'massive' pay cuts in 12-week plan

* Coronavirus: Fletcher Building staff pay uncertain**

As for many other young families in New Zealand, the juggling of our money and the wait for pay day is a fairly normal occurrence. With a two-month-old baby and a three-year-old, there are always gaps and holes to be filled when you are on one income.

That is not why I am writing to you.

I am writing to you because of my partner's slumped shoulders, because of the way he held his head in his hands when he got the official company communication announcing the 70 per cent pay cut for Fletchers staff over the next 12 weeks amid the current Covid-19 crisis.

This, after over a week of incredible stress waiting to hear what the Fletchers' executive had decided to do to help their staff during these unprecedented times.

Speaking of staff, you won't find a more loyal employee than the guy I married. He has been with Fletchers for years. Always one of the last to leave on those late stock take nights and first to put up his hand when extra help is required at work.

He hardly ever takes time off.

I try my best to manage by myself when the kids are sick so he can show up day after day to be there and do his best as part of the team he is in.

I've been to his lunchroom at work. I've seen the posters that advertise the values of the company and how being an employee of Fletchers is supposed to be like being part of a family.

We are not ungrateful to you, the executive and management for the hours and hours I am sure you agonized over the decisions you have been forced to make in this last while.

I understand that Fletchers will be taking a massive financial hit during these trying times, the stress you carry at the moment must be immense.

I do wonder about how you justify taking only a 15 per cent pay cut when you earn well in excess of half a million dollars a year, hard work and sleepless nights at present or not while we have to worry about having money to buy milk and bread.

Sincerely,

A Worried Mum.