Supermarket dispute could spread to other unions

The appeal for solidarity and support on the CTU website.

A major union has raised the possibility of blocking stock for supermarkets in Australia as action in the Progressive dispute escalates.

The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) is holding a special meeting in Wellington today to discuss nationwide and international support for the National Distribution Union (NDU).

The Maritime Union has raised the possibility of asking its Australian affiliates to block the loading of Progressive's cargo on Australian wharves.

The company's distribution workers went on strike on August 25 in support of their bid for a national collective agreement.

Progressive said this was non-negotiable and the workers were locked out three days later.

Mediation talks late last week broke down.

Maritime Union general secretary Trevor Hanson told National Radio unionists wanted to see the dispute resolved before it escalated, but the unions would take all the measures they could, if they had to.

For an employer to bring in outside labour to break a lockout was "absolutely serious to every trade unionist in the country".

The unions were discussing the dispute with their overseas counterparts to see what combined action could be taken against Progressive.

"If these employers want to cross borders, we have the right to work internationally as well," Mr Hanson said.

"We will be discussing it with the ITF (International Transport Workers Federations) in London this morning and we'll put all sorts of international pressure on that we can."

A considerable quantity of Progressive's stock came in from Australia, and the Maritime Union and its Australian affiliates had the power to stop that cargo coming into New Zealand, Mr Hanson said.

The dispute would escalate dramatically if the cargo was stopped on either side of the Tasman, and his preference was that the matter was resolved without any further action being taken.

"We want it fixed. We're asking for a fair crack of the whip from this company and they're not giving it."

A decision on whether or not to blacklist Progressive cargo was likely to be made at today's CTU meeting, Mr Hanson said.

Ms Harre said today's meeting was "a very significant development".

"We are expecting there to be firm offers of support, both industrially and financially.

"The union movement increasingly see these people as representing all workers, and all workers' right to bargain.

"It (Progressive) should be thinking very carefully about the long-term effects of its actions on its reputation in the New Zealand market.

"They have a lot to lose and it's time they pulled their heads in and accepted the right of these workers to bargain a national agreement."

Ms Harre said the union put a proposal to Progressive after the mediation talks broke down but had not heard back, so no further talks were scheduled.

The union had been inundated with emails of support from customers, she said.

In the supermarkets, staff had reported turnover reducing daily and "chaos" in organising supplies.

Meanwhile, the union was also in the midst of renegotiating the collective contract covering Progressive supermarket workers in Countdown, Foodtown and Woolworths.

The union would not be commenting on progress before the end of the day's talks, Ms Harre said.

A spokesman for Progressive Enterprises said the shipments from Australia were consolidated for other customers in New Zealand, not just for Progressive.

"The Maritime Union's proposed action would therefore impact on a huge number of other retailers in this country."

It was an irresponsible action to consider taking, and Progressive believed the action would be unlawful but the matter would have to be addressed by the suppliers affected.

"Any disruption to incoming goods starts to become a very serious matter for the nation when third parties not involved in industrial action are unlawfully impeded in their rights to go about their daily business."

- NZPA