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National | Protest

Widow joins march onto Parliament over forestry safety concerns

The widow of a forestry worker has marched on Parliament demanding better work conditions within the Forestry sector.

For the past 9 months, Maryanne Butler-Finlay has been under a cloud of sadness.

Since the death of her husband Charles in a Tokoroa forest, she doesn't want to see any other family go through what she had to endure.

“I’m here for my husband Charles Finlay. He was the 6th man killed in the industry.  He passed on July 19.

And we are here to make change, they need to regulate the system.”

Helen Kelly of the Council of Trade Unions says it’s the government's fault, and a simple law change could see a solution delivered.

But for now it's workers like Charles who are victims of legislative delay.

11 men died in the forestry industry last year, and Maryanne says it's dangerous work for only a pittance of pay.

Charles is survived by his wife, a son and a set of twins.

It’s hoped that another person’s life isn’t wasted in a similar manner.