CHH hits out at organisers of strike

Carter Holt Harvey (CHH) has hit back at organisers of industrial action involving over 1000 of its workers at plants around the country.

The action is the start of the nationwide five per cent-plus campaign at CHH by members of the National Distribution Union (NDU), Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), and Amalgamated Workers' Union.

The action includes strikes, stop-work meetings and pickets -- including one outside the company's head office in Auckland.

CHH chief executive Peter Springfield said this morning said the EPMU had misled its members into taking action.

Mr Springfield said leaflets distributed to union members omitted important information, including the fact that as an exporter CHH had not benefited from the high New Zealand dollar or the buoyant economy.

"This is hardly good faith towards the union members, who in the finish are the ones being misled," Mr Springfield said.

He said bargaining was under way at many CHH sites around the country and none had yet been concluded.

"It is premature to be taking this kind of stance. Given the proximity of the election I can only conclude that it is part of the wider union campaign that given the forthcoming election, appears politically motivated."

The EPMU's uncompromising stance on the 5 per cent campaign was at odds with earlier public statements that increases of less than 5 per cent were also justifiable, he said.

NDU wood sector secretary Jim Jones said the economy was doing well and CHH had to compete in terms of the labour market.

"They have to match wage increases with those of their competitors if they want to hold on to experienced workers and trades people," he told NZPA.

Mr Jones said in the view of the unions, CHH could well afford to meet the wage demands.

"That's not going to be the stumbling block in terms of Carter's profit or loss," he said.

- NZPA