Trans-Tasman APN dispute

August 26, 2005
Media Release

Trans-Tasman APN dispute

A dispute at APN newspapers in New Zealand is about to spread across the Tasman.

Workers at four APN newspapers – Hawke’s Bay Today, the Wanganui Chronicle, the Wairarapa Times-Age and the Levin Chronicle – are involved in rolling strikes in a dispute over pay.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that APN sites in Australia were also involved in industrial disputes, and workers on both sides of the Tasman were looking at ways to support each other.

“This will become a trans-Tasman dispute,” he said. “We are talking to printers in Australia about co-ordinating our disputes, and to APN journalists in Australia about financial support.”

About 35 workers at Hawke’s Bay Today walked off the job today for 24 hours. They include journalists, photographers, pre-press and press workers. The action will affect the amount of local news in the paper today and tomorrow.

They are seeking a five per cent pay rise.

APN is controlled by Irishman Tony O’Reilly’s Independent News and Media. Other APN holdings in New Zealand include the NZ Herald, the Northern Advocate (Whangarei), the Daily Post (Rotorua), the Bay of Plenty Times (Tauranga), the Oamaru Mail, the Christchurch Star and 111 radio stations, including The Radio Network.

ENDS

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