A union representing retail employees says plans to close and sell-off Dick Smith stores is unsettling for staff, who don't know if they'll be out of a job.

FIRST Union Finance Sector secretary Andrew Casidy said "there is no case to be made for cutting jobs when the bank is extremely profitable and with chronic understaffing in the banking industry on both sides of the Tasman."

Te Karere on job losses at Tangiwai Sawmill.

The drop in work ... had also affected the country's sawmills, said Robert Reid, secretary of First Union, formerly the National Distribution Union.

A union representing wood processing workers says Government intervention is needed to save the industry from a crisis.

The union representing sawmill workers is seeking government intervention after an Upper Hutt mill announced it will close with the loss of up to 40 jobs.

More jobs are going in the wood industry.

Last week, First Union (formerly NDU) announced Cavalier had made 22 workers and some management redundant across its Wiri, Napier and Wanganui mills, while Norman Ellison Carpets, which is 70% owned by Cavalier, made 20 workers redundant at its Onehunga yarn mill this week.