July 25, 2008 For Immediate Use

Industrial Action By Ministry of Fisheries Staff Postponed

Planned industrial action by 220 staff at the Ministry of Fisheries has been suspended after their negotiating team today reached a settlement-in-principle in negotiations for a new collective agreement.

"We've been in bargaining for the last two- and-half days and are pleased that we've reached a position that we can recommend to the staff covered by the collective," says Public Service Association National Secretary, Richard Wagstaff.

"We began these negotiations 10 months ago and it's good to have finally reached this point," says National Union of Public Employees Secretary, Martin Cooney.

The PSA and NUPE have been negotiating with the Ministry of Fisheries for a new collective agreement, since September last year. The 220 staff covered by the collective include fishery officers, investigators, scientists, scientific observers, and clerical and administrative staff.

The Fisheries staff were going to begin a two-week campaign of industrial action on Monday, including a series of 24-hour strikes, if the talks failed to reach a settlement-in-principle.

"The industrial action will not begin on Monday," says Richard Wagstaff. "It's been suspended while we report back to staff who belong to the unions."

"They'll be fully briefed on the terms of what has been agreed at the negotiating table and a ratification vote will be held," says Martin Cooney. "Only when the staff covered by the collective have voted to accept the settlement-in-principle will the action be cancelled."

ENDS

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