Union misleading its members says CHH

19 August 2005

Union misleading its members says Carter Holt Harvey

Carter Holt Harvey Chief Executive Officer Peter Springford says the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union misled its members into taking industrial action against the company today. CHH employees were picketing Carter Holt Harvey’s offices in Manukau today after the Engineers Union circulated leaflets attacking CHH for not paying a 5% increase to employees this year.

“The way the union has organised this protest does them no credit,” said Mr Springford. “The leaflets they sent around omitted key facts, despite the union having access to them. This includes the fact that as an exporter CHH has not benefited from the high New Zealand dollar or the buoyant economy. This is hardly good faith towards the union members, who in the finish are the ones being misled”, Mr Springford said.

Mr Springford said bargaining was underway at a number of CHH sites around the country. “None of the bargaining has been concluded”, he said. “It is premature to be taking this kind of stance. Given the proximity of the election I can only conclude that it is part of the wider union campaign that given the forthcoming election appears politically motivated.” The President of the Engineers Union uncompromising stance on the 5% for 05 Campaign is at odds with his earlier public statements that increases of less than 5% were also justifiable.

ENDS

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