850 NZ Steel workers walk off job
24-hour strike called after collective bargaining breaks down
More than 850 steel workers have left their sites for a 24-hour strike after a breakdown in collective agreement talks with employer NZ Steel.
EPMU is the union representing the workers, who were at sites in Glenbrook, Waikato, North head and Taharoa. It confirmed the “sticking point” has been rates of payment and conditions relating to the use of contractors on site.
EPMU senior organiser Stuart Hurst said the point of conflict was NZ Steel's use of contractors. Full time, unionised workers want a say in how contractors are used, and paid, to stop their own conditions being undermined.
Mr Hurst said the issue around the use of contractors on site has been “an obsession of management” for some time. “They’ve thrown everything at the workers to try and get their way on this.”
NZ Steel initiated court action attacking a contractors’ rights clause in the collective agreement two years ago. The case is still unresolved.
The union organiser said he hoped the company would "see sense."
“NZ Steel is one of the most efficient and productive steel mills in the BlueScope stable. The site has enjoyed industrial stability for 20 years, and there have been no problems or difficulties during maintenance shuts or other times when contractors are needed.”
On August 15, BlueScope [ASX:BSL], described by the Australian Financial Review as ailing, announced a $A900 million write-down and plans to curb loss-making operations across the Tasman.
The company said it was confident of a turnaround.
A 60% slide in its share price of the past 12 months has been blamed on rising raw material prices at a time of weaker construction demand.
Charlotte Woodfield
Tue, 16 Aug 2011
Tue, 16 Aug 2011
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850 NZ Steel workers walk off job
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