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26 July, 2005
Twenty-four tradesmen, members of EPMU in New Zealand, agreed to a two-year deal this week with Bridgestone at a tyre factory in Christchurch, ending a four-week strike. The agreement was termed satisfactory, but not reflective of the intense effort put in by the bargaining unit composed of highly skilled electricians and engineers.
Contract labour will be a continual issue, and EPMU Southern Operations Director Ged O’Connell said, “We have a significant problem with contractors and agency temps who are able to work in our plants and are not covered by our Collective Agreements.” Although the union prevented contractors from doing bargaining unit work during the strike, salaried staff performed some of that work, and that is an issue with the EPMU. A separate bargaining unit represents about 200 production workers at the tyre factory on the South Island.