Building sites hit

Press, 27 November 1987, Page 2

Building sites hit

By

RICHARD

CRESSWELL industrial reporter

Industrial action at building sites around Christchurch by New Zealand Labourers Union members continued yesterday and will go on today. The Southern branch secretary, Mr Barry Brown, said a union action committee was meeting daily to determine building sites to be targeted. He said employers were moving staff from the targeted areas to alternative sites around the city. Negotiations broke down on November 9 when the employers rejected a 14 per cent wage claim. The union was also seeking clarification of the industry allowance. Some employers in Christchurch and in Dunedin had signed or were considering deals for an 8.6 per cent wage increase and industry allowance, but the union said those employers were “medium-sized.” He said four sites had been hit yesterday and another four sites would be targeted today. Carpenters in the city are also taking industrial action one day at a time at sites in the city. The New Zealand Building Workers Union Canterbury, Westland and Nelson branch secretary, Mr Jack Clough, said if there was not award settlement shortly then national action would be considered. Mr Clough is also the vice-president of the national union. The union is seeking a 12 per cent wage increase and an increase in the industry hourly allowance to $2. The allowance is $1.07 at present. Action by retail workers under the Retail NonFood, Grocery and Supermarket, and Butchers awards is currently at a standstill, after strikes in Christchurch and Dunedin in the last week. Officials in the grocery and supermarket award negotiations meet the employers in Auckland today, and there will be a meeting with workers in Christchurch on Decern-

ber 2 to report back to members. The Southern Distribution Workers Union secretary, Mr Paul Piesse, said the union was claiming a 10 per cent wage rise, which was negotiable. Employers had offered 7 per cent. “We want to ensure the job provides a livelihood and is not completely casualised by the employers,” he said. The union is also chasing improved sick leave conditions and better junior rates. The award talks had broken down over the wage claim and,, more importantly, over the issue of shop trading hours. Mr Piesse said the employers were seeking to extend flexible trading hours to 15 hours a week in the non food award. The national employers’ advocate for the three awards, Mr Neil McPhail, said employers were seeking to extend the butchers’ award to allow an opening up of trading hours, including Saturday mornings as part of the ordinary working week. Under the supermarket workers’ award employers were seeking six additional normal hours and nine hours during the Christmas shopping. He said under the nonfood award employers sought flexible trading hours. Employers agreed with the union’s claim that the award expired on November 29. Unlike a usual award, which would continue, a clause in the award covering late-night working hours was wiped, and from November 2, hours would be unrestricted. “This means employers can open when they like within the limits of the Shop Trading Act.” He said lifting the restrictions meant an extra 15 hours of normal trading each week, and an extra 12 hours during the Christmas period. Employers have proposed conciliation on December 9, and the union had yet to confirm. Mr McPhail said he expected a response at the grocery and supermarket award negotiations in Auckland today.