15 09 04

Strike at LSG Skychefs will give company food for thought

An earlier media statement stated that LSG Skychefs had been notified of industrial action – this is incorrect, notification will be made within the next 24 hours.

The Service & Food Workers' Union (SFWU) and the Engineers Union (EMPU) will notify LSG Skychefs that union members will be taking industrial action in protest at the lousy offer made in recent wage negotiations.

Action will begin around the country on 1 October, with rolling stoppages in Auckland and Christchurch and a total ban on overtime in Wellington. Nearly 400 union members will be involved in the action to get their employer back to the negotiating table with a fairer offer.

Three days of bargaining between the unions and the company have resulted in a stalemate situation, with the company refusing to discuss any of the union claims and offering an unacceptable 4% pay increase for a two-year agreement.

Union members claims include increases in team leader allowances, time and a half for overtime and the ‘sorting out’ of the classification systems, as well as a 5% pay increase.

The company has so far refused to talk about any of these issues with the unions and has made a wage offer that union members consider unfair and unrealistic.

“Three days of bargaining should have seen the majority of issues discussed and resolved. However LSG Skychef’s response so far is unacceptable and union members are serious in their demands to have their claims properly considered” says Darien Fenton, SFWU National Secretary.

“Strikes will cause major disruptions and the company needs to take the workers seriously. We are hoping that industrial action can be avoided, but the ball is in their court now,” says Ms Fenton,

A picket has been planned for Friday 17 September for SFWU and EPMU members at LSG to show the company that they are serious about taking action. The picket will be outside LSG Skychefs on Tom Pearce Drive from 10 – 12am.

ENDS

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