Workers walk in union's pay rise push

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members at Colgate-Palmolive's Wellington factory walked off the job yesterday, and Morgan Furniture workers in Auckland will strike today as New Zealand's biggest union steps up its wages push.

The EPMU is holding a mass stop-work rally at Alexandra Park in Auckland today and at Christchurch's Addington Raceway tomorrow, with thousands of workers expected to attend.

The union represents nearly 50,000 workers in the manufacturing sector, including aviation, forestry, postal and media workers, the automotive industry and miners.

This year it launched a "Fair Share - Five in 05" campaign that aims to gain all members a 5 per cent pay rise.

Sixty union members at Colgate-Palmolive's Petone plant staged a second one-day strike yesterday after the company's wage offer fell short of the 5 per cent workers were demanding, said EPMU national secretary Andrew Little.

Workers struck for 24 hours last Wednesday after collective contract negotiations collapsed.

The toothpaste, toiletry and cleaning product manufacturer had offered staff a 5 per cent increase over 15 months, which equated to 4 per cent on an annual basis, Mr Little said.

"We are going to stick on 5 per cent," he said. "Having told their workforce last year they were looking at record profits this year, they cannot then say they can't afford a decent rise like 5 per cent."

A spokesman for Colgate-Palmolive said yesterday that the company remained in negotiations with the union.

"It is disappointing that the union decided strike action was necessary," he said.

Mr Little said 60 Morgan Furniture workers would attend today's stopwork meeting but would return to work at the company's Glenfield factory.

Staff had reduced their pay claim from a 7 per cent rise over 12 months to 6 per cent over 14 months, he said.

"The company has offered 3 per cent for 10 months."

Negotiators in the Metals and Manufacturing Industries collective agreement, which covers staff at about 220 companies, would return to talks on Thursday, Mr Little said.

The EPMU had settled 5 per cent increases with some firms in recent weeks, he said.

"We always knew that at some point we were going to come across employers who were resistant to it.

"Those employers need to know we are well-organised, our members are well-supported and if members are prepared to take on the battle, then they'll be supported through it."

Meanwhile, Service and Food Workers Union members at Mid Central Health will picket Palmerston North Hospital today before strike action from April 18. Union organiser Thomas O'Neill said the Spotless Services cleaners, orderlies and kitchen staff had been offered 3 per cent, which was a "0 per cent increase when inflation is accounted for".

- NZPA