Striking workers picket Cryovac in Porirua

Striking workers picket Cryovac in Porirua

Striking workers in the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) at Cryovac Sealed Air Ltd will picket the company premises today at 12 noon on Prosser Street in Elsdon, Porirua, in support of their pay claim.

The picket line will be set up opposite the company premises where striking staff will hold placards calling for a fair share in the companies’ increasing profits.

Over 100 workers in the EPMU recently voted unanimously to take strike action after pay talks with Cryovac Sealed Air Ltd reached an impasse because the company will not offer more than a 2% pay rise for the next 12 months.

The strike action affects 117 workers at the plastic bag manufacturer and includes a ban on short-notice overtime arrangements.

“Our members are taking a stand against Cryovac’s refusal to give them a fair share in the company’s rising profits," says EPMU organiser Mark James.

"The company’s profits were $16.8 million in 2009, up by $11 million on the previous year, and they still continue to perform very well, so they can afford more than a 2% pay rise for the next year,” says Mark James .

“Two percent would effectively be a pay cut for our members because inflation is set to rise above 4% next year and the government hiked GST by 2.5% last month,” he says.

“Cryovac also get to keep more of their profits because the government cut company tax last month, so we know they can afford to pay much more than 2%.”

“Workers at Cryovac are working 12 hour shifts, four days on and four days off, including nights and weekends, which means they work very unsociable hours.”

"For New Zealand workers to achieve pay parity with their Australian counterparts, wages need to go up by much more than 2% in a single year.”

“This is a time when we need to see real improvements if workers are to avoid a decline in their standard of living and if we are to start closing the gap with Australia .”

The EPMU is New Zealand ’s largest private sector union with the plastics industry section representing more than 3800 workers.

ENDS

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