Note Printing staff to stop work

Note Printing Australia (NPA) employees are striking this Friday, in response to the company refusing to give its workers a higher pay rise.

Staff decided to take action after NPA refused to budge in a meeting with representatives from the AMWU, on its position in an ongoing dispute over a new enterprise agreement.

Tony Piccolo, assistant state secretary for the Print Division at the AMWU says, “I believe it is the first time in Note Printing’s 105 year history for its workers to strike. The feeling among the employees range from disappointment to anger.

“We heard the company board met last Friday but we are yet to see anything come of that.

“We are hopeful that the company listens and pays attention to the fact there was a strong return from the ballot to take protected action through the AEC and that workers will strike this Friday. We hope the company realises that the workers are quite serious.”

[Related: Note Printing refuses to bend]

Employees at the national banknote printer in Craigieburn, Vic, voted overwhelmingly to enter industrial action after months of failed negotiations over a new enterprise agreement. Staff demanded a 3.5 per cent pay rise but NPA refused to budge on its offer of 2 per cent, even after meeting with the union last week.

Parent body Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has declined to comment.

Piccolo has called out RBA governor Philip Lowe for failing to act with his own address to a parliamentary committee in February, where Lowe the Bank would like to see wages growth across the country above three per cent.

NPA supplies the Australian government and some 18 overseas governments with banknotes.

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