Rail workers to strike for two days

Rail workers plan to strike on two days in December, in support of an 8 per cent pay increase demand.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union general secretary Wayne Butson said the union served state-owned KiwiRail with the strike notice on Thursday morning.

South Island Rail and Maritime Transport Union members would strike on December 16, followed by North Island union members on 17 December.

But because train control functions were located in the North Island, the second strike would also stop rail operations in the South Island.

The strike would also affect the Interislander rail ferry, Aratere, and Auckland and Wellington metro rail systems.

Butson said the strike would be the first full national stoppage of the rail system since 1994.

A large majority of Maritime Transport Union members voted to strike in a recent nationwide postal ballot to pursue a general wage increase of 8 per cent, after a zero increase last year, Butson said.

It comes after KiwiRail senior management received ‘‘huge bonuses’’ in the last financial year, he said.

He says rail workers were essential and played their part in keeping New Zealand rolling through the pandemic.

‘‘Rail workers are very aware of the importance of their work to New Zealand’s transport needs, and have taken this action because there has not been an acceptable offer forthcoming from management.’’

An 8 per cent increase would provide a flat rate universal increase for all members, by being applied to the gross payroll of all members and then distributed equally amongst all members, he said.

This would provide a fair and equal universal increase to members pay, he said.