December 4, 2008

Media Release

Masport workers strike

More than seventy Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and Moulders Union members at Masport are taking strike action in protest at the iconic company's below-inflation pay offer of 3%.

The strike action began yesterday morning and is expected to continue until at least Monday, severely disrupting production at the company's Mt Wellington manufacturing plant.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says members see strike action as the only way to get a fair deal.

"In the current inflation environment three percent is effectively a pay cut and our members clearly aren't going to accept that.

"There's a lot of talk about raising New Zealanders' wages and closing the gap with Australia but sometimes that means workers need to take strike action to make sure they get a decent offer."

The EPMU represents fifty workers at Masport and the Moulders Union represents around twenty.

ENDS

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