NZ Union Settles with Researcher OCIS

In Auckland, New Zealand, the Unite union says it has reached a settlement with the Oceania Customer Interaction Service (OCIS) over staff conditions, following emergency talks on Saturday morning.

The union's National Director Mike Treen told DRNO the deal brings an end to the lockout of 59 staff last Friday, and payment for members who lost shifts; together with withdrawal of legal action against the union for alleged bad faith bargaining, and a pay rise. The rise will deliver a 50c an hour increase in the base rate and the opportunity to earn up to another $1 an hour depending on achievement of quality and performance standards.

The original action had reportedly put pressure on OCIS to raise wages from $12.50 to $15.00 an hour, but Treen told www.radionz.co.nz the settlement was 'clearly the best offer on the table from the company'. He described the lock-out as 'a bit of a bruising process' and 'a big mistake' but added 'at least it brought it all to a head and we ended up in emergency negotiations.'

OCIS and Unite are online at www.ocis.com.au and www.unite.org.nz .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.