The managing director of seafood company Sanford says pay negotiations are localised to separate branches of the company and can not be driven by the company's overall profit.
Service and Food Workers Union members at the Sanford mussel processing plant in Havelock have rejected the company's latest pay offer and walked out on strike on Friday and early Saturday.
Managing director Eric Barratt said the negotiation process was an issue for the Havelock plant, but he said the company had to "make the best decisions for everyone".
An interim report to shareholders for the six months to March 31 this year showed a $13.1 million net profit, which was about $7.7m more than the same time last year.
The report also said sales were up 17 per cent.
Mr Barratt said it was not as simple as equating profit with pay rates because different branches of the business would be returning different earnings.
A union spokesman said the company offered about $12 a week before tax and nothing for piece workers, who are paid by the number of mussels they open.
The company would also look at cutting the $1.50 hourly night shift allowance, which would mean a net loss of about $55 a week for some workers.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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