Chief executive said agreement comes after 'constructive discussions'
Employees of council-controlled InfraCore will soon receive a living wage after carrying out a protest for fair payment last month.
InfraCore chief executive Regan Fraser said they reached a new agreement with unions that will see employees paid $26 an hour as a minimum, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Fraser said their agreement comes after "constructive discussions" with the unions, whose expectations were previously much greater than what the company could afford.
InfraCore, controlled by the Rotorua Lakes Council, is in the business of maintaining, managing, and constructing infrastructure and facilities assets. It employs individuals offers services in the parks, cemeteries, and the provision of water services departments.
The deal comes after 75 union members from the Amalgamated Workers Union (AWUNS) and First Union carried out strike action for five days last month after negotiations with InfraCore fell apart.
Toni Smith, AWUNZ organiser, said it was "completely outrageous" that InfraCore employees with over a decade of experience were only getting paid $23.65 an hour.
"Trainees at other local councils are better paid, and every other local body in the region pays a living wage of a minimum of $26 and hour," Smith said in a previous statement.
"This isn't greed, this strike will cost our members money, but they feel totally disrespected, undervalued, and have tried everything else."
Fraser said the strike created a "modest backlog of work," but expressed appreciation to all parties' patience over the situation.
"We can now focus on what we do best: providing quality services that contribute to making our district a safe, clean, and beautiful place to live, work, and play," Fraser said as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
