Skycity and Pay Parity

09/12/2005

SkyCity finally pays auckland rates for Hamilton workers - yeah right

SkyCity staff, members of the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota in Hamilton went on strike for the third time on Friday night in pursuit of wage parity with their colleagues at SkyCity in Auckland. They are currently paid 15% to 20% less and have only been offered 2% by SkyCity

Now, to add insult to injury SkyCity are bringing Auckland non-union staff to Hamilton casino and paying them Auckland rates.

"SkyCity are paying, in many instances, little more than the minimum wage and they justify it based on 'matching' the pay rates in Hamilton. They are effectively saying that their Waikato staff should be paid the local 'burger bar' rate rather than be rewarded fairly for the skilled, professional jobs they perform." said Shane Vugler, SFWU Nga Ringa Tota Senior Waikato Organiser.

"The reality is that SkyCity is sucking millions of dollars out of the Waikato economy and delivering little more than a hundred low-paid jobs." Mr Vugler said.

Workers at SkyCity Hamilton are paid as little as $10.10 and the company offer of 2% (or 12.5% over three years with the addition of 'flexi-time' rostering) is an insult and means that skilled, capable workers have no real hope for a future in the industry.

ENDS

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