Auckland Rockgas customers:stock up before industrial action

April 24, 2013

Auckland Rockgas customers advised to stock up ahead of industrial action

Auckland customers of Contact Energy’s Rockgas would be wise to stock up on gas, ahead of industrial action starting this Friday by its drivers.

The drivers, members of FIRST Union, have been in bargaining with Contact Energy’s Rockgas but an inability to convince the company to value its workers properly has seen the parties unable to reach an agreement, FIRST Union organiser Jared Abbott said.

“Contact Energy’s full year profit was up over 25% in the last financial year to $190 million, and their half yearly profit update in February was also up 20%.

“This is a company that can comfortably afford to pay its workers properly, but when it comes to sharing a little of the wealth their workers helped create, they are ducking for cover.”

“The drivers are seeking pay rates comparable with others in the industry and a change to a clause that gives the company the right to dismiss employees who have been injured for 6 weeks. We think this should be at least 3 months,” he said.

“Despite ongoing bargaining between workers and the company, Rockgas has been unwilling to move at all on remuneration. They are seeking a 3 year agreement with no wage increases or pay rates specified in the employment agreement.”

“Rockgas’ hard working staff helped the company achieve their good profits, and they deserve to be treated better than this,” Jared Abbot said.

The strike is for an indefinite period, and commences Friday morning. It will affect all commercial and residential customers who rely on Rockgas cylinders.

The National Distribution Union and Finsec joined forces in October 2011 to form New Zealand’s newest union – FIRST. The union represents 27,000 people working in Finance, Industrial (Textile and Wood) Retail, Stores & Transport. http://firstunion.org.nz

ENDS

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