TEU members at Natcoll’s Wellington campus are taking industrial action today because their employer is still refusing to offer them a pay rise, nine months after their last collective agreement expired.

Natcoll is owned by publicly-listed company Renaissance. The members are seeking a three percent pay-rise which they believe that Renaissance is well able to afford.

Natcoll has a projected profit for January to June 2011 of $789,000.

TEU organiser Phil Dyhrberg says class sizes and thus productivity are well up.

“Student numbers are full to overflowing, and TEU members deserve a pay rise.”

Mr Dyhrberg says TEU membership at Natcoll’s Wellington campus has grown from about 30 percent to 90 percent in recent months.

“Renaissance is a large viable company. Its staff work hard and deserve better than a zero pay offer. It’s really exciting to see new staff joining the union and working to make their job better for everyone,” said Mr Dyhrberg.