The strike would have paralysed New Zealand's rail system over December
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) has lifted their strike notice against KiwiRail after reaching an agreement that satisfied both parties involved. The RMTU first announced in late November the strike action against the state-owned rail enterprise to call for better pay for workers. It scheduled a strike on December 16 and 17 that would paralyse New Zealand's rail system.
However, KiwiRail in a media release on Tuesday said the notice of strike action has been lifted and the potential disruption to supply chains and passenger travel has been averted. According to KiwiRail, both parties have agreed on Terms of Settlement which brought the "difficult" negotiations into a conclusion.
"It has been a difficult negotiation, but we have arrived at a settlement which provides our employees with a good pay outcome, and KiwiRail and our customers with a stable industrial environment into mid-2023," said Todd Moyle, KiwiRail's acting chief executive, in a statement.
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Wayne Butson, general secretary of the RMTU, also said in a statement that the union is satisfied with the settlement both parties agreed upon.
"The RMTU has been consistent in its approach to these pay talks and we are satisfied that an appropriate settlement has been arrived at," he said. "It has been tense at times, and we did not issue a strike notice lightly, but the outcome will be recognised by members as a fair one."
Details of the agreement have yet to be disclosed to the public, but the ratification of the agreement will begin next week.
