May 5, 2006

Media Release

Postal workers want 5% pay rise

Thousands of postal workers have today launched a campaign for a five per cent pay rise with a rally outside the Auckland Mail Centre.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that the workers had a strong case.

“Most of these people are earning $12 to $14 an hour,” he said.

“New Zealand Post is doing extremely well. It’s New Zealand’s most profitable State-owned Enterprise, and last year made a $130 million profit. It hasn’t made a loss since 1987 and since 1997 it has increased its capital value by 500 per cent to $2.5 billion.

“Postal workers contribute enormously to that success, and deserve to get a fair share of it in their pay packets.”

Negotiations to renew the collective agreement start in Wellington
next Tuesday. The EPMU has around 5000 members at New Zealand Post.

ENDS