Union members at Stuff are set to go on strike. Photo: RNZ/ Brad White
Stuff has confirmed union members at the news organisation have voted to take industrial action as negotiations to renew the collective agreement for journalists stall.
The E Tū union has told Stuff affected staff could strike for the final two hours of their shifts from tomorrow until Friday, and for a 24-hour period next week.
Stuff chief content officer Joanna Norris said the offer tabled was in line with those accepted by journalists at other media organisations.
"Our aim is always to negotiate constructively, and we have strong interest in continuing to provide fair pay and conditions for all staff, including those who belong to E Tū...
"The increase we have proposed is comprised of a percentage increase and a new stepped pay scale.
It is understood the average increase will be about 7 percent, but there is unhappiness about how this will apply.
"It's batsh**," said one employee.
Norris said fewer than half of Stuff's journalists would be involved in the strikes if they went ahead, and its news website and newspapers would still operate.
"Like all businesses we are experiencing rising costs and pressures of inflation. We need to balance our desire to pay people as much as we can with these pressures.
"For example, all publishers are grappling with a 30 percent increase in the price of newsprint."
As well as its news website, Stuff runs several newspapers, including the Sunday Star-Times, the Dominion Post and the Press.