Hawkes Bay Today workers strike goes all out

Production workers joined journalist colleagues in strike action at Hawkes Bay Today on Wednesday afternoon, walking out on the APN-owned company over their poor pay offer.

The 29 editorial workers have been on indefinite strike since Thursday of last week, a decision made after APN failed to make a decent offer after nearly 10 months of negotiating.

"The guys have got really staunch," says EPMU delegate Dave Pope, "they’ve been out here picketing the office every day of this strike."

And their action is seriously affecting the paper, with wire stories being used to fill space and very little local content going in. "People are saying how bad the paper’s got, the management are putting together the local news and its quality has dropped considerably. We’ve heard plenty from the public about how they’ve stopped buying it." says Pope.

So far local TV and radio have covered the strikes and the public response is extremely good with most locals behind the action. "We’ve been picketing at one of the busiest intersections in town and all we’re hearing is support," says Pope.

The last offer management made to editorial staff was 3.5 per cent for 18 months and 3 per cent for a further 12 . Their last offer to production workers was 3 per cent for eleven months. Both have been rejected by members and the company has withdrawn the production offer. Currently both groups want five per cent for 12 months and are determined to stick together to get it.