Southland Times workers join pay freeze strike

November 27, 2009
Media Release

Southland Times workers join strike against pay freeze

Journalists, printers and sales staff at the Southland Times are striking today in protest at Fairfax’s refusal to offer a wage increase, and will join thousands of low paid public sector workers in their nationwide day of action against the pay freeze.

The Southland Times strike involves more than thirty staff, including most of the newsroom, and will involve a picket in the Invercargill city centre at Wachner Place, Dee Street from 12.30-1.30pm.

EPMU organiser Trevor Hobbs says the pay freeze is unfair and unjustified.

“The union has been in negotiations with Fairfax for months, but the company has refused from the outset to lift its pay freeze.

“Our members are rightly angry with Fairfax’s refusal to pay a cost of living increase, particularly as the company had no trouble funding a $5 million golden handshake for departing CEO David Kirk.

“Today’s strike action is about demonstrating to the company that we expect some movement on pay when we meet again in April and to show our support for the thousands of low paid workers around the country who are protesting today for a fair deal.”

The EPMU is New Zealand’s largest private-sector union, representing 45,000 workers across eleven industries.

ENDS

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