Three hundred plastics industry workers have started nationwide industrial action today, saying their employers are trying to impose a wage freeze.
The action includes go slows and overtime bans at businesses covered by the Plastics Multi Employer Collective Agreement: Marley, Viscount, VIP, Premier, Iplex, Alto and Calvert Plastics.
A proposed wage freeze would mean a pay cut for workers on or near the minimum wage after rises in the cost of living were taken into account, said Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national plastics industry organiser Rachel Mackintosh.
"This is an industry with long-term investment including public money and many of the companies involved in this dispute are now having to employ temporary labour and offer overtime to meet demand."
Paul Diver, the advocate for the plastics businesses concerned, said they would not make any comment on the situation.