EPMU and HWE Mining settle on 11.6% pay rise

27 August, 2010

Media Release

EPMU and HWE Mining settle on 11.6% pay rise

The long-running dispute between striking Waihi gold miners and HWE Mining Pty Ltd was settled today with 55 miners in the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) winning a pay increase of 11.6% over the next three years.

The settlement, which follows a period of strike action at the Favona Decline mine, was ratified today by EPMU members after mediation between the union and the company in Tauranga with the Department of Labour.

The settlement is back dated to 8 May and includes pay increases of 4% in 2010, 4% in 2011 and 3.5% in 2012. EPMU members also receive an up front payment of up to $750 (based on length of service from 8 May 2007 to 8 May 2010) and an increase in redundancy compensation benefits from the current maximum payment of 6 weeks’ pay to 9 weeks’ pay in 2012.

“A pay rise of approximately 4% per year over the next three years is well above the current national average annual pay rise of 1.6%,” says EPMU national secretary Andrew Little.

“This is a good outcome for EPMU members, highlighting the clear financial benefits of belonging to a union collective agreement,” he says.

“A pay rise of 11.6% over three years along with an up front payment for union members are welcome at a time when prices are rising and the Government is hiking GST, both of which hit workers’ pay packets.”

The EPMU represents 1200 workers in coal and gold mining in New Zealand.

ENDS

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