Stores workers in Chch strike

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 9

Stores workers in Chch strike

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

Stores workers in Christchurch covered by the General Stores Award have voted for an immediate 48-hour strike from yesterday. The workers, who are members of the Southern Distribution Workers’ Union, are expected to return to work tomorrow. The secretary of the union, Mr Paul Piesse, said there were about 350 workers at a meeting yesterday. There might well be further rolling stoppages, he said.

The union was seeking a pass-on clause for the wage rise, but employers could not assure those paid above award rates that the increase would be “passed on” to them as well, he said. The employers’ advocate for the award, Miss Penny Swarbrick, said the

award talks had been adjourned in mid-September and the employers had offered a 3 per cent wage' rise.

The wage offer was conditional on the union’s accepting employer claims on flexible work hours, and on shift work clauses for the award to legitimise what was already happening.

Mr Piesse said there was award provision for shifts but they had to be negotiated with the unions. Miss Swarbrick said present hours of work would not be changed but employers needed more flexibility. “We believe any additional flexibility would preserve jobs, if not create them,” she said. A meeting would be held for Auckland store workers on November 7. The union was using standover tactics, she said.