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29 November, 2010
Plastics and packaging members of New Zealand’s Engineering, Printing, and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) won’t be taking further industrial action against Sealed Air’s Cryovac subsidiary. A week ago, on 22 November, 117 workers at a plastic bag and food packaging factory in Porirua ratified a two-year wage settlement that will bring them 3.19% pay gains for both 2010 and 2011.
EPMU members had engaged in three weeks of industrial actions in late October and November that caught the attention of the ICEM. (An InBrief report from two weeks ago can be seen here)
EPMU's Tim Awatere
Sealed Air’s original wage offer of 2% for a one-year contract drove workers to take strike actions, which included a one day walkout on 8 November and a ban on all short-notice overtime work.
“This is a good outcome for EPMU members, highlighting the financial benefits of belonging to a union collective agreement,” said EPMU Organiser Mark James. “Our members took a stand to get a fair share in the company’s increasing profits so this is a result they can be proud of.”
The Sealed Air Cryovac factory, on New Zealand’s North Island north of Wellington, produces plastic bags primarily for the meat industry, as well as packaging for other food manufacturing.