Striking because they’re paid too much

Well this is a new reason for a strike. The Maritime Union is going on strike to protest against the Ports of Auckland voluntarily giving its members a 3.25% pay rise.

The Union president has said “his members were incensed that the company paid the money into their bank accounts without their permission.”

There are many things which an employer could do to incense me.  Giving me extra money voluntarily is not one of them.

Of course a union has every right to strike if a collective has expired, in furtherance of their pay claims.  But  having the employer voluntarily giving you an increase as an interim measure until the pay claim is settled, is hardly repressive.