Plastics nears sign-off

Late last year plastics industry workers decided to try something new in an effort to settle the industry agreement.

Bargaining with a group of core employers in the industry had dragged on for nearly six months with no settlement. It seemed the employers had no interest in continuing the industry agreement. So, in early 2010, the union did something new - we began approaching employers one by one to settle the agreement bit by bit. Companies have already begun to sign in.

In the meantime, faced with a year of being bogged down in site-by-site bargaining, the employers have now responded -finally - by making a big effort to come up with an acceptable offer for an industry deal.

EPMU national plastics organiser Rachel Mackintosh says progress is good. "We are now hopeful that there will be a broad settlement that the whole industry can get behind and we expect to be able to report more next week once Delegates have met and discussed the situation."

"We're pleased to see things getting on track," says Mackintosh, "as the Plastics MECA is one of the union's significant documents and provides real long-term gains for plastics workers. Like the Metals MECA, it sets standards that flow on to other bargaining. When the Plastics and Metals are strong, all workers benefit."

If you're a member on a plastics site and want to join to the MECA you can contact us on 0800 1 UNION or us@epmu.org.nz to find out how.