Strike ‘great success’

Press, 18 March 1985, Page 1

Strike ‘great success’

The strike by photo-litho-graphers and engravers on Friday and Saturday was a “great success,” according to the president of their union, Mr David BolamSmith. The strike stopped publication of the Saturday editions of “The Press," the “Star,” the “Week-end Star” and the “Timaru Herald.” All Christchurch printing houses that employed commercial photo-lithographers and engravers were also affected, said Mr BolamSmith yesterday. The action was in support of the union’s claim for a 9.2 per cent wage increase and a suitable shift agreement. A similar strike was planned by Dunedin members of the union. This would stop publication of the “Otago Daily Times” on Saturday. The “Southland Times” and the “Oamaru Mail” might also be affected that day, he said. Auckland newspapers were also stopped on Saturday. Mr Bolam-Smith said that the strike had disrupted the industry and highlighted the union’s claims. It was a “costly exercise” for em-

ployers and it had altered employers’ attitudes to those claims. Informal talks between employers and the union were already arranged for March 25, but he hoped that they would now meet before then. The action includes an overtime ban for nine days. Mr Bolam-Smith said. This would not affect news-

papers, except possibly to make publication later than usual. It would have a greater effect on commercial printing houses, which would be unable to catch up on work not done during the 24-hour strike. •If the dispute was not settled after March 25, the union might take further action, said Mr BolamSmith.