The National Distribution Union (NDU) says that the sale of Whitcoulls and Borders is a victory to 900 employees whose jobs now look secure.
Staff were informed of the sale today and were told closures would be avoided if possible.
But the NDU says it is disappointed at the loss of 25 jobs from six stores which will close – three as a result of the Christchurch quake and three that weren’t included in the sale.
Sixty-two stores have been bought by the owners of Farmers outlets Anne and David Norman. The sale saved the bookstores from going under after the current owners were put into administration. But the NDU – which represents the owners of both companies – says the job losses are a shock to employees.
“We will be working with and advocating with both administrators and the buyer, to see if those workers aren’t going to be needed for those stores, or could be transferred to another Whitcoulls store close by,” says NDU general secretary Robert Reid.
The bookstores will transfer over to the new company in June.
Ian Draper, the former managing director of Whitcoulls and then the REDgroup, would be appointed to run the business.
''Ian has been working with JPL during the due diligence phase of the process and has demonstrated both passion and zeal that we know will be welcomed back by the team at Whitcoulls and Borders,'' Norman said.
Ten Whitcoulls stores at New Zealand airports have been sold last month to travel retail specialist LS Travel Retail Pacific – they will be renamed as “Relay”.
REDgroup retail were roundly criticised by New Zealand’s literature community for the way they ran Whitcoulls.
The store had increasingly become a seller of gift cards and wrapping paper rather than books, and largely stocked cheap, but popular, mainstream titles.
New Zealand writers often complained their works were pushed to the back of the shelf.
The Normans own Pascoes, Stewart Dawsons, Prouds, Goldmark and Angus & Coote, plus Farmers - which they bought in 2003 - and Stevens homeware.
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