Workers at the Hornby Club in Christchurch will strike this Saturday evening, calling for a fair pay scale and fair treatment on the job.

Union member Lucas MacManus says staff have been pushed to the point where the strike is the only option.

“After months of drawn-out negotiations, we’ve been left with no choice but to take action,” Lucas says.

“The lack of meaningful progress reflects a deep failure of management. We’re disappointed that our concerns continue to be sidelined. This strike is a direct response to a system that refuses to listen.”

Another member, Sonja Peereboom, says low pay, broken promises, and toxic management practices have made working at the club increasingly difficult.

“I was told I’d get 30 hours a week but only got 25 – and that’s just not enough to live on. I’ve had to choose between paying rent, power, or buying groceries.

“Some staff get free meals, some don’t. Some get punished for speaking up. Good people leave all the time, but the problems stay.”

The dispute follows a breakdown in bargaining over the club’s proposal to cut some of the printed rates in the pay structure. E tū says the changes would strip away pathways for progression and erode the decent pay standard members have fought to maintain.

E tū organiser Alex Hewison says the offer falls short of both fairness and financial reality.

“This employer has paid the Living Wage for years and says it expects to perform well in the year ahead. There’s no good reason to backslide now.

“These changes would lock in lower rates for newer workers and weaken pay progression for existing staff. It’s a step backwards, and our members won’t accept it.”

The strike will take place at the Hornby Club on Saturday 9 August, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

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