Unions sit down with Carter Holt to talk pay

Carter Holt Harvey and unions at Kinleith mill near Tokoroa were to begin three days of face-to-face discussions today over pay and conditions.

An employer-union working group has been looking at pay and conditions for nearly two months.

It is the first negotiations since a record 84-day strike two years ago.

Combined site unions committee chairman Graham Holmes said workers were seeking a five per cent rise.

He said the company had previously offered four per cent in the first year and three per cent the year after, but Mr Holmes said he was not sure if the three per cent in the second year was still on the table.

He personally was not hopeful of a breakthrough this week.

"They're singularly stingy in their offers."

The company won't disclose what it is offering.

- NZPA