EPMU and PSA joint media release

3rd November 2006

Lightning strikes disrupt flagship show two days running

TVNZ’s flagship six o’clock news was hit by lightning industrial action for the second time in two days after Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and Public Service Association unionised workers walked out at 4:10pm today and did not return until 7:05pm.

The actions have resulted in significant loss of quality of the country’s most watched show as management have scrambled to cover missing content with more read-over stories, lengthened interviews, increased use of junior reporters and increased numbers of foreign items.

EPMU National secretary Andrew Little says the action will continue until the Crown Owned Company makes a decent pay offer and fixes service leave issues.

“This level of industrial action is unprecedented at TVNZ and it’s cost them financially and in terms of the quality of the quality of their service. It’s time they realised this issue isn’t going away and faced up to their workers with a decent offer.”

PSA Organiser Brenden Sheehan says union members are determined to get a fair deal.

“This is the seventh time union members at TVNZ have taken action, they’re getting more and more frustrated with the company’s poor attitude, and that’s just hardening their resolve to continue.”

Staff taking action included journalists, cameramen and technicians in Wellington and Auckland.

ENDS

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