Union, company disagree on numbers pulling out of strike

Police warned picketers not to stop trucks and staff from entering Progressive Enterprises' distribution centre in Palmerston North yesterday.

As the dispute between the workers and the supermarket operator entered its 12th day, some of Progressive's locked-out staff turned up for work yesterday morning.

Senior Sergeant Murray Drummond, who had a terse discussion with a union member, said police had a duty to maintain public order and uphold people's rights "and that's entirely why we are here", the Manawatu Standard reported.

Progressive Enterprises managing director Marty Hamnett said the Palmerston North distribution centre had nearly half its normal staff.

"It's great to see the trucks rolling again and comes as welcome relief."

National Distribution Union national secretary Laila Harre disputed Mr Hamnett's statement that 26 people had returned to work. She said 10 to 12 people, all from the Palmerston North centre, had gone back to work since the dispute began.

"In the long term what the [Palmerston North workers] understand is that, if they are isolated, this employer's objective will be to reduce their pay to the level of [workers in] Auckland and Christchurch."

Mr Hamnett said the company had no intention of reducing allowances at Palmerston North and reiterated that 26 workers returned to work in the past week.

The workers began what was to be a 48-hour strike on August 25, but were locked out by Progressive three days later.

- NZPA