Picket at silent Colgate factory

Striking workers are now picketing the Colgate Palmolive plant in Petone in support of a “fair share” five per cent pay rise.

Their action co-incides with the visit this morning of the company’s South Pacific general manager, vice-president Derrick Samuel.

The workers walked off the job at 11pm yesterday. This morning, the plant, on the corner of Hutt Rd and Nevis St, is closed and more than 50 workers, bearing placards like “tough on grime, tougher on workers” and “total wage decay” are outside making their demand for a fair pay rise heard.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said that the workers were determined to get a fair share of the company’s profits.

“That plant is highly profitable,” he said. “These workers contribute significantly to that profit, and deserve to share in it.”

The workers are handing leaflets to morning commuters at Petone railway station. The picket will remain until 10am.

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