Atlas dispute settles

Workers at Atlas Engineering in Auckland ended their strike action and ratified a new collective agreement on Thursday.

The twenty-one EPMU members won a four percent pay rise but were unable to win the extra week’s leave they were after.

EPMU organiser Damon Thomas says the members are glad to have the dispute settled.

“The members here are relieved to have the dispute sorted this side of Christmas and the company has agreed to backpay the wage increase back to June, which is a big boost to families at this time of the year.

“While we didn’t win the extra week’s leave we were after the members here can hold their heads high for standing tall in support of their work rights.

“Next year we’ll be initiating to enter the Metals agreement, so the extra week’s leave is still very much a live issue amongst the membership.”

This week 130 AA members began indefinite strike action in support of an extra week’s leave.