Progress flickers as labour dispute continues

Supermarket giant Progressive Enterprises yesterday was considering a fresh proposal to settle a bitter employment dispute with hundreds of locked-out distribution workers.

However, the proposal, made public by the unions, appeared to still be at odds with the stance Progressive has taken so far.

About 500 workers in Christchurch and Auckland enter their 14th day off work today and the bitter dispute is beginning to take a financial toll. An 0900 phone line has been set up to take public donations for them.

The dispute has also affected delivery of stock to the shelves of Foodtown, Countdown and Woolworths stores.

The National Distribution Union (NDU) yesterday said it had put forward a reasonable proposal for a single national collective agreement for its workers. Progressive managing director Marty Hamnett was not available to comment on it yesterday, but previously he was adamant the company would not allow a national collective deal because of regional differences.

In a statement yesterday, the NDU and the Engineering Manufacturing and Printing Union (EPMU) provided details of the proposal such as a negotiable 8 per cent wage increase and a new $2 per hour allowance to give parity for workers across the country.

"We believe that we have met any reasonable objections that the employer may have had to the original claim we tabled," said NDU national secretary Laila Harre.

"Clearly the company's objective is not to negotiate a settlement with these workers and the unions.

"The company's objective is to win its demands through the brutal economic pressure of the lockout."

Progressive yesterday trumpeted the reopening of its Palmerston North distribution centre, saying 26 workers had decided to quit industrial action and a total of 44 were now at work.

Striking Auckland workers voted to send representatives down to support the Palmerston North workers.

Ms Harre said the workers at the Palmerston North distribution centre had felt the brunt of company bullying.

"The centre is not operating at full capacity and the company is only able to do the little it is because it is prepared to starve workers into accepting its demands," she said.

Locked-out Auckland worker Senio Tevaga, 27, said: "Progressive is disappointed they aren't going to be making as much money with some bare shelves. But when our shelves are empty we can't feed ourselves or our baby. Customers are lucky they have the option of going elsewhere to shop."

Christchurch worker Carl Skivington admitted to some weariness after 13 days of picketing, but was still determined yesterday.

The financial pressure was building on him, and his family was having to consider going on to an emergency benefit, but unions and the public had been "incredible" in their support.

One truck driver, with no links to the dispute, had stopped to drop off cigarettes and fish and chips to picketers. "My personal view is we just have to keep going. Our heels are dug in the ground and we can't take a backward step," Mr Skivington said.