Strike hits CHH Whangarei plant

September 16, 2005

Strike hits CHH Whangarei plant

Workers at the Carter Holt Harvey LVL plant in Whangarei are on strike and demonstrating in the city as a national pay campaign intensifies.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that about 40 workers walked off the job for 12 hours from 7am today as part of rolling stoppages at the plant. Other workers were involved in strikes earlier in the week.

The EPMU, the National Distribution Union and the Amalgamated Workers’ Union have launched a national campaign for “five per cent-plus” wage rises at CHH plants, and have held two national days of action.

Mr Little said that workers at the Whangarei plant had been offered a two-year agreement with three per cent rises each year, and the loss of one week’s annual leave.

“This offer is totally unacceptable,” he said.

“Carter Holt Harvey needs to understand that five per cent is the going rate this year. So far, no CHH site has been offered a five per cent rise.”

Next week, CHH workers will hold one-hour stop-work meetings.

ENDS

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