Union members at Māori Television have reached an impasse with their employer over pay and are considering industrial action.
Māori Television (file) Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
E Tū print and media spokesperson Joe Gallagher said the union collective had been in negotiation with the company for over six months and the relationship was strained.
They would be meeting with Māori TV again next week and he hoped that would lead to a resolution, he said.
"We had a meeting with our members and an offer the employer put to us has been rejected and a ballot has been taken around industrial action," Mr Gallagher said.
"However, we see industrial action as a last resort."
Māori TV chief executive Paora Maxwell said an offer of a base pay rise was made during mediation and would be consistent across the organisation.
"We believe the offer put forward to the union at recent talks is both fair and reasonable and supports the organisation's performance-based remuneration approach."
Māori TV called on E Tū to bring the collective bargaining process to a close, in the interest of its staff. It said it remained committed to progressing the bargaining process and reaching an agreement to give certainty to the 26 employees in the union collective.
Mr Gallagher said he was looking forward to the discussions next week.
"We've reached a very critical point, obviously Māori TV have an opportunity to resolve this with us next week [in a way] that meets the need of our members and themselves."