Union members at the Turners & Growers Mt Wellington plant in Auckland went on strike over the weekend as part of an ongoing pay dispute, according to the Manawatu Standard.

National Distribution Union sector secretary Karl Andersen said about 40 workers had come to work on Saturday, but decided “to go home again” after a meeting discussing the pay dispute.

The Union had asked for a pay rise of about 6 per cent, but Turners & Growers had initially offered only a 2 per cent raise, later increased to 3 per cent.

Mr Anderson said the company had a history of low pay packets, having to raise some when new minimum wage rates were introduced earlier this year.

The Union said it was trying to broaden the strike to affect more of the company’s logistics chain, and if the strike continued fresh produce supplied would “come under pressure” in the next few days.

Turners & Growers human resources manager Delys Tansley said the number of union members in the workforce was too low to affect supplies.