Cryovac workers beat wage freeze decree

November 5, 2009
Media Release

Cryovac workers beat wage freeze decree

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members at Cryovac Sealed Air in Porirua have beaten a company-imposed wage freeze, winning a 2% pay rise as a result of industrial action.

The industrial action involved 130 workers at the packaging company, and involved a work to rule order, an overtime ban and a refusal to provide cover for absent staff.

EPMU organiser Mark James says the pay increase shows the importance of workers standing together through their union.

“This is a large multi-national company that could easily afford to give its workers a fair and reasonable pay increase, and we’re glad the company came to see this as well.

“The fact is there’s no excuse for companies that are making a healthy profit to simply impose a wage freeze on their workforce. Our members at Cryovac have shown that if we stand together through our unions we can demand a better deal.”

In 2008 Cryovac Sealed Air made a net profit of $5.9 million. In the first seven months of 2009 the company posted a net profit of $6 million.

ENDS

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