E tū members at TVNZ will walk off the job from 1pm to 2pm next Thursday, 29 October, in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. It’s the first time TVNZ union members have taken strike action in 20 years.
TVNZ has offered workers a 2.5% pay rise. With annual inflation at 4.1%, that’s a pay cut in real terms. It follows years of offers from the state broadcaster that have failed to keep up with rising prices.
TVNZ journalist and E tū delegate Ethan Te Ora says workers at the company can’t meet basic costs.
“We’ve told TVNZ how much people are struggling with the rising cost of living. My colleagues have shared how they’re going into overdraft to buy necessities like groceries or petrol. Some aren’t running the heater in winter because it costs too much, or they’re putting off big life decisions like starting a family.”
Despite this, the company’s pay offer is well below inflation once again, Ethan says.
“In real terms, workers’ pay has fallen behind by 18.1% since 2018. TVNZ talks up its investment in technology, but where’s the long overdue investment in its people?”
TVNZ senior technician Ian Lester says workers have reached their limit.
“It’s been 20 years since TVNZ union members last took strike action. Workers have been pushed to this point by years of inadequate pay rises from management that consistently fall below inflation.
“Ultimately, we’re tired of seeing our take-home pay shrink in real terms year after year.”
E tū Director Amy Hansen says TVNZ has left workers with no other option.
“Nobody at TVNZ wants to be standing on a picket line. These are people who’d much rather be in the newsroom, the studio, or out on a shoot getting the news to air,” Amy says.
“They’ve been patient for years. They’ve watched prices go up and their pay go backwards, and they’ve kept turning up and doing the job. Now TVNZ wants them to take another real cut.
“We know they have money for bonuses for their execs, and for investing in Youdooh, the digital advertising service. They recently paid a dividend of $2.2 million – there is money there for a fair pay rise.
“The Government is TVNZ’s only shareholder. If it wants a strong public broadcaster, TVNZ has to pay its people enough to stay.
“TVNZ needs to come back with an offer that keeps up with the cost of living. A 2.5% rise with inflation at 4.1% is a pay cut, and these workers have already taken too many of them.”