'Give us a break,' say workers

May 1, 2006

Media Release

‘Give us a break,’ say workers

Long-serving workers at an Auckland abrasives company are on strike for a decent break.

Members of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union from Saint-Gorbain Abrasives, in Te Atatu, are picketing the site over the company’s refusal to continue rewarding loyal service with an extra week’s leave.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said that until now, workers with more than six years’ service under their belts had received an extra week’s annual leave, but the company was refusing to continue the practice when changes to the Holidays Act came into force next year.

“The company is saying that the law will give everybody four weeks’ leave and that it intends to drop the extra break for long-serving employees,” he said.

“What this tells the workers is that their employer does not value their loyalty and dedication.”

ENDS

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