Striking mill workers head for HQ

Striking workers from the Kinleith pulp and paper mill are calling for Corporate responsibility and will take their protest to the boss tomorrow, picketing Carter Holt Harvey’s head office in Manukau, Auckland.

The workers have been on strike since March 7, principally in an attempt to get CHH to maintain a position of leadership in the safety standards it sets.

CHH has made a claim in the bargaining to remove a buddy system that ensures operators in its chemical manufacturing plant always have help at hand.

CHH also want to force Production workers to fight fires, clean up chemical spills, and rescue each other in emergencies. This would enable CHH to disband the professional fire brigade and cut costs on “emergency response” services. Kinleith Fire fighters and production workers are open to change but down-grading safety protection in such a dangerous environment is unacceptable in this day and age.

The protest will be held outside the company’s head office at 640 Great South Road, Manukau, from 11am until 1pm, and will be joined by workers from other sites.

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