By KEVIN TAYLOR
TOKOROA - Disgruntled Carter Holt Harvey workers took their concerns to Wellington yesterday as the occupation of the company's Tokoroa sawmill entered its eighth day.
About 30 workers met Engineers Union officials and Taupo MP and cabinet minister Mark Burton, who agreed to contact CHH to try to get mediation going.
The group also picketed outside ACC's head office.
Staff occupied the sawmill on December 11, demanding they work days instead of nights.
The occupation was sparked by two accidents, the second the night before the occupation when a worker nodded off to sleep and crushed the fingers of one hand in a machine.
Sawmill workers have been doing shifts starting at 4 pm and midnight, and say their health and safety is being jeopardised by their having to work nights while the mill stands idle during the day.
CHH says the night-shifts are because maintenance and contracting staff are working on upgrading the sawmill during the day.
In a meeting in Rotorua last week, Occupational Safety and Health branch manager Murray Thompson told workers that he would personally follow up their concerns.
The workers say fatigue led to the two accidents.
The earlier one occurred a month ago when a log rolled over a man's leg while he was working night shift.
Engineers Union delegate Robert Popata said yesterday that workers were starting to hurt financially, as they were not being paid.
CHH was sending logs to Rotorua for processing while the dispute continued.
Mr Popata said that despite the time of year and financial difficulties, the workers' families were right behind their loved ones.
"If this was to continue we are going to start feeling it in the pockets.
"But the workers, wives and kids are saying we should be given safe working patterns," he said.
"They realise it's probably not the best time, but when is the best time to stand up for health and safety?"
Sawmill staff take gripes to capital
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.