Talks in onshore rig workers' dispute to resume

1.00pm

Talks will resume today in the onshore oil-rig workers' dispute.

About 100 workers from five onshore drilling rigs at Taranaki and Taupo walked off the job on Friday in protest against the failure to settle their multi-employer collective agreement.

The workers want a 5 per cent pay rise and better redundancy provisions.

They returned to work at lunchtime yesterday after the Employment Court issued an interim injunction ordering them to do so.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said in a statement today talks would resume in New Plymouth at 3pm.

A full hearing on the injunction application was due to be heard in Wellington on Wednesday.

The union, which represents all the workers, was not present when the interim injunction was ordered, Mr Little said.

- NZPA