Northern Advocate newspaper staff on strike for more pay

About 30 journalists, delivery and dispatch staff at the Northern Advocate newspaper in Whangarei were on strike yesterday in a pay dispute.

Members of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union walked off the job late on Monday but were expected to return to work early today.

John Henton, the general manager of Northern Publishing, which employs the workers, said management and non-union staff were able to produce the newspaper yesterday and would do so again for today's issue.

He said the union's collective agreement had expired on September 1 but negotiations were delayed while other workplace issues had been addressed.

The company is offering union staff a two-year agreement, with a 2.9 per cent pay rise from the beginning of this month for the first year, and a 2.5 per cent increase in the second year from December 1, 2005.

Union members are seeking a 3.5 per cent wage rise for one year and the same amount for a second year.

Union national secretary Andrew Little said members sought 3.5 per cent because wage settlements at the Advocate had been lower than average in the industry over the last five years, and there was a "catch-up" element involved.

Discussions between company and union representatives are expected to resume within a day or two.

Mr Henton said the staff Christmas party had been cancelled and the coffee machine removed. He had "removed those privileges" until there was a return to work. Once that happened, he would review the restoration of both, he said. "It's not an issue."