Industrial update – Sept 26, 2005

September 26, 2005
Media Advisory

Industrial update – Sept 26, 2005

1. Striking workers at the Carter Holt Harvey LVL (lumber veneer plant) at Marsden Pt, Whangarei, are holding protests in Northland today (see release earlier today).

2. Journalists at Otago Daily Times have rejected a pay offer and put their employer, Allied Press, on notice of industrial action. The union is reporting back to the papers’ printers on Wednesday. Both groups have been offered the options of a two-year agreement, with a four per cent pay rise this year and a three or four per cent pay rise next year (depending on inflation); or a five per cent rise now with another two per cent in 15 months’ time.

3. A seven-day strike by baggage handlers at Menzies Aviation continues. A four-day strike by the company’s cleaners ended yesterday. Menzies Aviation services several airlines flying into Auckland International Airport, including Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Singapore and Pacific Blue. An estimated 20 aircraft arrived over the weekend (see release last Wednesday).

4. Baggage handlers at Mt Cook Airlines in Queenstown returned to work yesterday after settling their agreement. Union lawyers are now looking at the company’s conduct during the dispute (see release on Saturday).

5. A dispute at Southward Engineering continues. Thirty workers have been suspended since September 9.

6. Staff at the Fairfax-owned Hutt News and Upper Hutt Leader are on strike today (see separate release).

7. Talks will be held today finalise details in the Radio New Zealand collective agreement.

8. The Plastics Industry Multi-Employer Collective Agreement starts being rolled out through the industry this week (see release last Thursday).

ENDS

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