F&P Healthcare workers being threatened with suspension

Tuesday 20 September, 2011
Media Release

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare workers being threatened with suspension if they take limited action

Nearly 900 Fisher and Paykel Healthcare workers at the company’s Highbrook factory are being threatened with suspension as they meet to vote on whether to accept the company’s latest pay offer.

F & P Healthcare production, maintenance and distribution workers, who are organised by the EPMU and NDU, gave notice two weeks ago to take limited industrial action from midnight tonight (Wednesday 21 September) in response to the company’s pay offer for a new collective agreement.

EPMU Director of Organising, Rachel Mackintosh, says even though staff meetings are still taking place this afternoon to vote on the management’s latest offer, the company is already threatening to suspend workers if it is rejected and staff go ahead with their action. “The employer is acting very aggressively and the company’s action, if it went ahead with the threat, would far outweigh what their employees would be doing.”

The workers’ unions originally gave notice after the company had offered a 3% wage increase for 11 months followed by a further 2% for 11 months, in response to a staff claim for a 5.7% pay increase for a one year deal.

During urgent mediation late last week, the unions revised their claim to create an opportunity for settlement. The unions’ new position allowed for a two-year deal, with increases of 3.75% and 3%. In response, the company made a marginally revised settlement offer of a 3% plus 3.2% increase on wages for a two-year agreement.

F & P Healthcare workers have been holding meetings in shifts during the day to vote on the revised offer. This are not expected to be completed until 5.30pm.

The employees’ proposed action would involve continuing to turn up work but slowing down the production process. Workers not on shift would picket the Highbrook plant during the day.

Ms Mackintosh says the workers want a fair settlement that goes some way to countering dramatic increases in cost of living factors such as power, fuel, food and insurance.

ENDS

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