EPMU Wins 5% for NZ's Solid Energy Miners

The three-month-long dispute between 750 New Zealand miners, members of ICEM affiliate Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), and state-run Solid Energy ended 19 July with a negotiated settlement. The union won a 5% wage increase for year 2005, plus 2% cash payment in 2006. In addition, EPMU won pay parity for miners in underground and open pit mines on both New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Workers at some mines will get an additional 3% next year, others will receive 2%, and miners at two of those coal mines will receive an extra 1.5% wage boost at the end of the two-year agreement in 2007. “This agreement sees another significant group of workers win a 5% pay rise, as well as re-establishing a national industrial agreement,” stated EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little. He added that it was “a milestone for the mining industry.” Since EPMU launched its “Five in ‘05” campaign in February, the union has negotiated 5% first-year wage settlements in 219 of 245 labour agreements negotiated across several different sectors.