Unionised fuel workers to strike, as company refuses to bargain

The 12 unionised drivers out of 80 are part of the Workers First Union and will stop work from the 26th of November to the 1st of December.  

Fern Energy is a significant provider of bulk fuel, and supplies industrial sites, farms, and transport operators across the country.  

The Workers First Union said representatives are refusing to enter mediated bargaining with them unless workers withdraw industrial action.  

Union organiser Justin Wallace said this behaviour was childish.  

“There hasn’t been a phone call. There hasn’t been a ‘Hey Justin, how can we make this work with the members?’ 

“There’s been none of that. It’s just been you do this, and we’ll come. So that sort of describes their petulant behaviour."

He said Fern Energy chief executive Chris Gourley has not personally fronted the issue with the union, and they have dealt with company advocates instead. 

A pay disparity problem has also been alleged. Wallace said currently, “non-union Fern Energy workers on Individual Employment Agreements (IEA) receive preferential treatment and compensation from the employer".

He said this potentially leads to higher pay rates based on experience, compared to unionised members who, on a Collective Agreement achieve pay increases through years of service at the company.  

The two contract options are presented to new employees. Wallace said the company is employing people on IEAs on a similar wage to those on a Collective Agreement, however, in a matter of months they are earning what a union-member would earn on their fourth year at the company.  

He said it incentivises new employees to take the individual contract, so that the company doesn’t need to deal with the union.  

In a statement Fern Energy rejected the claims, saying it was disappointed by the strike.  

“We were keen for negotiations to continue without this threat hanging over the discussions,” a spokesperson for the company said. 

“We completely reject the union's claim that our drivers on individual contracts enjoy superior remuneration and conditions to their collective contract colleagues. We have demonstrated to the union that this is not true.” 

The company was confident that little disruption will occur due to the number of employees striking.  

“We look forward to the completion of negotiations with the union to confirm the updated collect.” 

Wallace said the company's attitude showed it didn't seem to worry or care about the issue. 

“They’re their employees, and this group of employees have legitimate, reasonable rights to claim for what they’re claiming for, but they’re just not listening.” 

Depending on the outcome of next week’s strike, Wallace said more action is still on the table. 

“Members make decisions on what actions are taken. So as unions, we are there to support them on whatever decision they decide.” 

He said future industrial action such as a picket could cause disruption across the upper North Island.