Gas and power line engineers at Tenix issue strike notice
 
Gas and power line engineers in the EPMU around the North Island issued notice today of strike action they will take from 30 November after talks with the employer, Tenix Group Pty Ltd, reached an impasse over the company’s superannuation contributions and changes to hours of work rules.

The action will affect around 230 workers employed by Tenix, the contracting company that maintains power lines for Powerco and the gas network in Wellington, and will include a ban on overtime, callout and standby arrangements.

“We are taking this action as a last resort after Tenix cut their super contribution offer from 8% to 2% and changes that are needed to the hours of work clause being offered,” says Joe Gallagher, EPMU national industry organiser for the electrical sector.

“Workers at Tenix feel cheated after the company promised in 2008 to contribute 8% to their superannuation schemes, but have now reneged on this and cut their offer down to a minimal 2%,” he says.

“Around half of these workers pulled out of better super schemes on the basis of the company’s 2008 promise of an 8% contribution, so they now stand to lose out because the company has reneged on its promise.”

The EPMU is New Zealand's largest private sector union, representing 3,000 workers in the electrocomms sector.

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