Unions, Summit negotiate nine day fortnight

April 9, 2009
Joint Media Release

Unions, Summit negotiate nine day fortnight

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, the National Distribution Union and Summit Wool Spinners have negotiated a nine day fortnight arrangement involving an employer wage top-up.

If the application made to the Government today is successful the scheme will save up to 57 jobs at the recession-hit Oamaru firm.

EPMU lead organiser John Gardner says the wage top-up was a critical part of the deal.

“The EPMU and the NDU have made it very clear from the outset that any nine day fortnight arrangement must come with an employer wage top-up because workers simply can’t afford to take another hit in the pocket.

“The company has been very good on this point and as a result we have a deal our members are very happy with.

“We’re particularly pleased that Summit’s management has backed a cooperative solution to the troubles the company is facing, and this reinforces the importance of workers and employers working together to beat the recession.”

NDU president Robert Reid, who has been brokering the deal with Government, says he is pleased to see that so many jobs have been saved.

"Summit must be congratulated in coming to the party. The agreement shows that a nine day fortnight with employer top-ups can be a valuable alternative to job losses.”

Summit Wool Spinners spokesman and director Mr Ricky Hammond-Tooke says, if the Government supports the application, it will be a good outcome to have achieved, under the circumstances.

“It’s been a trying time for all concerned and I would like to thank the unions and everyone else involved in the negotiations for their positive attitude and patience.”

Summit Wool Spinners has been owned since 1992 by the textile division of Sumitomo Corporation of Japan.

The company is New Zealand’s largest independent wool spinner, supplying yarn to carpet and rug-makers in New Zealand, Australia, South East Asia and the USA.

ENDS

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