Press Release: National Distribution Union and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
Tuesday, 12 September 2006 1:45pm
Unions to Challenge Lawfulness of Lockout - Members Reject Employer Offer
LAWFULNESS OF LOCK OUT
The NDU and EPMU have filed proceedings in the Employment Court challenging the lawfulness of the lock out of
distribution workers serving Progressive supermarkets.
NDU National Secretary Laila Harré says that the unions believe the demands made by the employer as a condition for
ending the lockout are unlawful.
"The employer has demanded that union members give up their right to good faith negotiations for a national agreement.
The right to good faith negotiations is a fundamental right in the Employment Relations Act and our position is that it
is not lawful to demand that that right be given up. If this lock out was lawful then any lock out aimed at making
workers abandon their fundamental right to collective bargaining would be lawful," said Ms Harré.
The unions are asking the Employment Court to hear the case on the lawfulness of the lock out next week when time is set
down for the hearing of proceedings relating to the alleged unlawful use of other people to do the work of the
distribution centre workers.
REJECTION OF EMPLOYER'S OFFER
Meanwhile workers at the company's distribution centres have rejected offers faxed to the unions yesterday and again
requested that the employer enter good faith negotiations for the national agreement and talk with the unions to
progress a settlement of all issues.
"We are very disappointed with the employer's offer which completely ignores the issues that are at the heart of the
dispute. The settlement proposed by the unions last week showed significant movement by our members that did address
concerns raised by the employer.
"The employer's offer shows no movement at all.
"No offer is made on the fundamental issue of parity in allowances between the sites. The 3.5% pay offer would result in
a real pay cut as it does not keep pace with inflation. The offer to increase the pay rise to the inflation rate of 4%
requires workers to offset the extra by giving away existing conditions of employment. The three agreements sought by
the employer would have three different terms, preventing members from bargaining together again for three years. And to
add insult to injury the Palmerston North workers who are being offered a three year deal would be required to cross
their fingers and hope that a reasonable pay rise could be negotiated in the third year as they would give up their
rights to a normal bargaining process for that."
"The overall effect of this offer is to cut wages and conditions and to increase the differences in pay between the
three areas."
ENDS