November 5, 2009
Media Release

Cryovac workers beat wage freeze decree

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members at Cryovac Sealed Air in Porirua have beaten a company-imposed wage freeze, winning a 2% pay rise as a result of industrial action.

The industrial action involved 130 workers at the packaging company, and involved a work to rule order, an overtime ban and a refusal to provide cover for absent staff.

EPMU organiser Mark James says the pay increase shows the importance of workers standing together through their union.

“This is a large multi-national company that could easily afford to give its workers a fair and reasonable pay increase, and we’re glad the company came to see this as well.

“The fact is there’s no excuse for companies that are making a healthy profit to simply impose a wage freeze on their workforce. Our members at Cryovac have shown that if we stand together through our unions we can demand a better deal.”

In 2008 Cryovac Sealed Air made a net profit of $5.9 million. In the first seven months of 2009 the company posted a net profit of $6 million.

ENDS