Unions up pressure on CHH

By PAULA OLIVER and NZPA

Carter Holt Harvey's union woes look likely to continue after three unions said yesterday that they would discuss a joint campaign against the company.

Carter Holt employs 11,000 people in New Zealand and Australia.

Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter said representatives of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, National Distribution Union and the Waterfront Workers Union would meet today in Rotorua.

A delegate from the Australian Manufacturers Workers' Union would also attend.

"Unions in Carter Holt Harvey all around the country are reporting problems with the company's heavy-handed and anti-worker tactics, in some cases resulting in industrial action," Mr Goulter said.

Two disputes are in Nelson - one over the loading of logs onto ships, and another around the proposed withdrawal of transport services at the Eves Valley timber plant.

Carter Holt Harvey Forests chief executive Jay Goodenbour said the unions had a right to meet, but they would have to ensure that any action they took was lawful.

Cross-union industrial action over unrelated disputes was not permitted under employment laws, he said.

A Carter Holt Harvey spokeswoman said the company would continue talks with unions.