MCK workers strike over redundancy clawback

165 Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members began strike action at MCK metals in Taranaki this morning after the company attempted to cut redundancy for new workers by 34 weeks.

Negotiations at the aluminium fabrication business have been underway for nearly two months now and strike action follows a revised pay offer of 2.25% from the company.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says members are unhappy at the prospect of new workers having their redundancy undermined.

“Our members at MCK understand that if they allow the company to undercut new workers they will be next and they are not willing to work alongside people who have been hired on lesser conditions.

“MCK have just secured a large deal to supply bull-bars to the Australian new vehicle market but they are claiming that tough economic times are behind their clawback, even though savings on redundancy cuts are unlikely to made for years.

“That’s simply not good enough and it is part of a pattern of employers trying to use the recession as an excuse to drive down workers’ terms and conditions. As we’ve seen with other attempts to cut wages and conditions it’s only through the strength of being unionised that workers are able to say ‘no’.”

The strike is expected to last for one day but members have not ruled out extending it.

ENDS

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