February 21, 2007
Media Release

Kiwi workers rally for their FairShare

Over a thousand Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members rallied in New Plymouth today for the launch of the union’s FairShare ’07 campaign.

EPMU National Secretary, Andrew Little, addressed the rally and laid out the union’s strategy to increase Kiwi wages over the next twelve months as well as the union’s strategy to get the most for its 50,000 members from changes to annual leave and KiwiSaver.

Little says the EPMU has shown it can change New Zealand’s wage path since the launch of the 2005 FairShare campaign and it will do so again.

“Today we’re telling employers that this year we expect pay rises of 5% and we’re prepared to do what’s necessary to get it.”

Little says the EPMU will be also making claims for employer contributions for KiwiSaver from now on as part of the 5% claim.

“One of the major changes to the employment landscape this year is the introduction of KiwiSaver and we’ll be taking employer contributions into account during our negotiations. But our message is clear – whatever form wage rises take they will have to be higher than inflation if workers are to actually get ahead.

“With increased business confidence and a strengthening economy there is no excuse for working Kiwis to miss out on the economic good times. We’re going to make sure our fifty thousand members continue to get their fair share and we’d expect those gains will flow on throughout New Zealand as they have in the last two years.”

ENDS

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