New Zealand tomato growers are striking for 24 hours on Monday, to protest their low pay. First Union, which represents workers in the horticulture sector, said more than 100 tomato growers and distribution and logistics employees at Turners and Growers would walk off the job for 24 hours from 4am on Monday.
First Union lead organiser Denise Roche said the industrial action was in protest of "bleak pay" and Turners and Growers refusal to negotiate a collective agreement. Workers from nine Turners and Growers sites would strike including Ohaupo, Reporoa, Palmerston North, Christchurch and five sites in Auckland. Auckland workers would protest with pickets outside the Turners and Growers Favona site.
Turners and Growers began in Auckland in 1897 when English-born Edward Turner started a fruit auction business. It is now an international company with well-known New Zealand brands including Jazz Apple, Enza, Sunfirst and its tomato brands Beekist and Ruby's.
First Union, which started bargaining on behalf of workers in February, was asking Turners and Growers to raise staff pay to the living wage of $20.55, Roche said. Most workers were currently paid between the minimum wage of $16.50 or $17.50.
Stuff.co.nz reported how Turners and Growers Global spokesman Andrew Keaney said it had a strong relationship with its more than 1500 staff across New Zealand. "Throughout our discussions with First Union we have been acting in good faith while negotiating collective agreements for some time," Keaney said. It was committed to working with First Union to resume negotiations and achieve a positive outcome for all as soon as possible, he said.