Press Release: National Distribution Union and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union

Sunday, 3 September 2006, 9.30am,

Day 10: Mediation Concluded Without Settlement or Further Mediation Date

Mediation between the two unions representing 600 locked out distribution workers and their multi-billion dollar Australian employer Progressive concluded at 5pm last night without a settlement or a further mediation date set, says the National Distribution Union.

NDU National Secretary Laila Harre said that the National Distribution Union and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union had hoped to continue talks with Progressive until a settlement had been reached, but that this had not proved possible to date.

“After 10 days without pay, Progressive continues to demand that the 600 distribution workers give up their claim for a national agreement before the company will let them return to work,” she said. “At the heart of this dispute is pay parity for Auckland and Christchurch workers with Palmerston North.”

Ms Harre said that pickets outside supermarkets will continue to prevent the use of illegal replacement labor and to inform supermarket customers about the issues.

Ms Harre said that the union is also exploring legal options relating to misleading claims made by employer throughout the dispute, in particular the claim that unions are seeking a 30% increase in wages.

ENDS

Donations for the locked out workers can be made out to the National Distribution Union at 02-0200-0217968-00 with the reference "Lock Out".

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