There's still a long road ahead for workers at OceanaGold's Waihi underground mine near the Coromandel

The 90 members are amidst a 48-hour protest - the first of a series of planned stoppages over the coming weeks in support of their pay claims.

E tu union organiser Myles Leeson says the reduction in working hours is a step in the right direction, but there's still progress to be made on wages.