Sky City workers take to the streets in protest

Sky City workers take to the streets in protest

Sky City workers will today begin taking action to protest their employer’s behaviour and meanness in bargaining for a new collective employment agreement.

During eight days of bargaining over more than five weeks, Sky City has repeatedly undermined the bargaining by running a parallel bargaining process with non-union workers, and say they will offer an inducement of $200 cash for workers to sign up to the Company’s individual agreement.

Workers have been offered a stingy 2.5% pay increase, with a further 2% from 1 July 2002, along with a few other minor improvements.

“This is the first time since Sky City opened five years ago that union members have been able to negotiate any employment agreement at Sky City” says Darien Fenton, National Secretary of the Service & Food Workers Union, the casino workers’ union.

“They began the bargaining feeling optimistic that Sky City was prepared to listen and genuinely address their issues and concerns, but the behaviour and tight-fistedness of Sky City has been deeply disappointing to union members.”

“Sky City is due to announce a record profit on the August 21st and with the ban of further Casinos in New Zealand, they have a licence to print money. Yet this Company believes that workers will tolerate wages continuing to go backwards. Union members intend to show they won’t”, says Ms Fenton.

Sky City workers will protest outside the main entrance of Sky City Casino on Saturday, 4th August from 7pm – 9pm and will be available to speak to the media at the picket.

For further information contact: Darien Fenton
Phone 09 810 9226 (home) or 025 360 089 (mobile)

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