October 21, 2009

Media Release

Cryovac workers start industrial action over wage freeze demand

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members at Cryovac Sealed Air in Porirua have begun industrial action over the company’s attempt to impose a wage freeze despite making a $6 million profit in the first seven months of this year.

The industrial action involves 130 workers at the packaging company, and will start with a work to rule order, an overtime ban and a refusal to provide cover for absent staff. The action will continue until further notice and escalation is not being ruled out.

EPMU organiser Mark James says Cryovac Sealed Air is making healthy profits and can afford to pay its workers fairly.

“We’ve spent three whole days trying to reason with the company but it’s felt like we’re banging our heads against a brick wall.

“Cryovac seem to have got this idea into their heads that even though they’re making healthy profits they can use the recession as an excuse to demand a wage freeze.

“The fact is it’s not getting any cheaper for our members to keep a roof over their heads or feed their families so any wage freeze will mean an effective cut in pay.

“This is a large multi-national company that can easily afford to give its workers a fair and reasonable pay increase. That’s all our members are asking for.”

In 2008 Cryovac Sealed Air made a net profit of $5.9 million. In the first seven months of 2009 the company posted a net profit of $6 million.

On Monday, EPMU members at Dominion Breweries in Timaru and Greymouth also began industrial action against company attempts to impose a wage freeze.

ENDS

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