Wednesday 18th April 2012

Media Release

EPMU Says AFFCO Mischevious Over Collective Agreement Settlement

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) was recently involved in a collective agreement settlement with AFFCO and says it's misleading and mischevious for the company to suggest the Meat Workers Union take a more constructive approach to negotiations when they have locked out a section of the Meat Workers Union members as part of the company’s strategy.

The EPMU recently settled the collective agreement covering mechanical fitters in AFFCO freezing works. Meanwhile, the company has prevented a large proportion of its meat workers from going to work (i.e., a lock-out) as part of its collective agreement negotiation strategy.

"It's important to note that EPMU union members - unlike workers belonging to the Meatworkers Union - have never been locked out by AFFCO in the process of re-negotiating the collective agreement we have with the employers," says Paul Tolich, EPMU senior national industrial officer.

"We believe it's at best extremely misleading and mischevious for AFFCO to say the Meat Workers' Union needs to follow suit in terms of their collective negotiations. The company has taken a very militant and aggressive stance against the meat workers and we are absolutely opposed to the tactics that AFFCO is using."

"With the negotiations to renew the engineers' collective agreement we did not face threat of a lockout or any claw-back claims from the employer," says Mr Tolich. "We appeal to AFFCO to lift the lock-out against meat workers and sit down with the Meat Workers Union and negotiate in genuine good faith."

The EPMU strongly supports the meat workers members and their union in their demand for lifting of the lockout and a return to the bargaining table to settle their collective agreement.

ENDS

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