NCR strikers to return to work

NCR has reported that staff have returned to work following a strike organised by the Australian Services Union (ASU).

The strike, which commenced on Monday, saw around 50 of its 150 ATM maintenance workers, or customer engineers, walk off the job, according to NCR.

Action was taken in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland. Victorian workers - due to strike from Saturday through to Tuesday – will now stay on the job.

In a statement earlier in the week, the ASU said that the industrial action was centred on talks with NCR to introduce the company's first enterprise bargain agreement breaking down.

According to the ASU, workers were faced with an increase in motor vehicle costs of about 18 percent over the past five years while petrol prices had risen by 65 per cent over the same period.

However, NCR had offered to increase allowances by about six per cent.

NCR PR manager Mervyn Jeremiah, acknowledged that NCR and its workers were unable to come to an agreement on details around rostered days off, wages and allowances, but could not comment on specific negotiations.

Jeremiah could not comment on whether NCR was considering legal action against the striking workers or the ASU, but said negotiations were slated to continue tomorrow.

“Anything we can do to avoid further strike action is a positive,” he said. “We now have our full complement [of workers] back now and there is a lot hanging on the talks tomorrow.”

ASU secretary Sally McManus could not be reached for comment.