2006 Progressive Enterprises dispute

Locked out workers at an Auckland picket.

The 2006 Progressive Enterprises dispute was an industrial dispute between New Zealand supermarket company Progressive Enterprises and employees represented by the National Distribution Union and the EPMU. On 25 August 2006, over 500 employees at Progressive's four distribution centres (in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch) began a 48-hour strike supporting a demand for a national collective agreement involving an eight percent wage increase and pay parity between the four centres. On 26 August 2006 the company locked out the strikers indefinitely, suspending operations at its distribution centres, with suppliers delivering goods directly to the supermarkets and also setting up amateur small scale distribution centres in car parks of Countdown supermarkets.[1] The dispute was resolved on 21 September 2006 when Progressive Enterprises agreed to pay parity and a 4.5% wage increase.[2]

  1. ^ "Progressive Forced to Suspend Grocery Distribution Centre Operations". Progressive Enterprises Limited Press Release. 28 August 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2006.
  2. ^ "Progressive pay dispute resolved". TVNZ News. 21 September 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2006.