Workers Ban Overtime at JNL

8 November 2005

Workers Ban Overtime at JNL

After months of negotiations National Distribution Union and Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union members at Juken Nissho NZ Ltd are taking industrial action in the form of overtime bans to win a wage claim of 5% for 15 months. Four sites are involved - Northland and Triboard Mills Northland, Gisborne and Masterton.

Both unions acknowledge the current economic situation of the wood industry is not as profi table with the continued high exchange rates but believe workers and their families should not suffer because forest industry employers have failed to develop an appropriate strategy of investment in technology and added value.

There are labour and skills issues but nothing is done about it. Just the opposite. JNL is known for exploiting workers employing at times, 30%+ of its workforce through labour hire companies on less than the industry rates. The wage offer on the table doesn’t keep pace with CPI let alone with wage increases in general and is not a fair share even in the not so good times.

ENDS

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