February 23, 2004
Media Advisory
Bargaining starts tomorrow (Tues, Feb 24) in the country’s most influential industrial document.
The Metals and Manufacturing Industries Collective Agreement (known as The Metals) is New Zealand’s largest
private-sector multi-employer collective agreement. The current document covers more than 2000 workers at more than 200
companies, and is recognised as setting the benchmark for wages and conditions across the manufacturing sector (see
Harbridge/Walsh, Victoria University).
The Metals is an example of the type of successful multi-employer collective agreement which amendments to the
Employment Relations Act are designed to promote.
Workers around the country have held a series of stopwork meetings to discuss claims and tactics in the build-up to the
negotiations.
The agreement is negotiated by the EPMU, representing workers, and the Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Association. The
talks will be held in Auckland.
The union’s chief advocate will be its Auckland assistant regional operations director, Bill Newson. Newson will not be
able to speak to the media while talks are under way.
Regular updates and background information can be found on our website, www.epmu.org.nz
What: Bargaining in The Metals
When: From Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Where: Auckland