Several strikes loom in award talks round

Press, 28 November 1988, Page 6

Several strikes loom in award talks round

PA Wellington Stop-work meetings by Social Welfare Department workers today will be asked to consider lifting industrial action so award talks can resume, said the Public Service Association president, Sue Piper, yesterday. Department staff started industrial action last Monday after talks broke down with employers offering a wage rise of $lO a week and the association claiming $3O a week or 7 per cent. The association said the offer equated to about 2.3 per cent on the pay of the largest group of workers. Action included short stoppages, overtime bans and restricted hours of opening, though Hamilton offices closed for one day and the Huntly office for two days. Ms Piper said staff would be asked to lift action so talks could

resume tomorrow. Progress would be reviewed again next Monday. Builders’ labourers award talks have adjourned with employers offering a 2.5 per cent increase and the union seeking 7 per cent. / The wool, grain and hide award has been split with grain and hide workers settling for 3 per cent, and negotiations for the wool part of the award continuing. Talks on the orchards and vineyards award have been adjourned with employers offering $5 a week arid counter-claims and the union seeking $2O a week plus claims. Award talks starting today include the biscuit and confectionery award, furniture trade award, private hospital nurses’ award and the clerical awahi. Strike action by Electri-

corp workers from next Monday could shut down more than 10 power stations every two days, cutting New Zealand’s power generation by a third. P.S.A. wage rise claims range between 4.5 and 9 per cent while the corporation offers are between 1.25 and 2.2 per cent. The Northern Distribution Union secretary, Mr Mike Jackson, said drivers would also strike for at least a week from Monday, threatening the supply of goods into shops in time for Christmas sales. Also striking next week will be dairy workers, who gave two weeks notice of industrial action on November 24. Journalists’ unions will today complete consultations with members over an employers’ offer ofria 4.5 per cent pay rise.