Put up or shut up Open Country

Media Release: Dairy Workers Union
Sunday September 27 2009

Put up or shut up Open Country

“If Open Country Cheese has any credible evidence whatsoever that Dairy Workers Union members were involved in an environmental spill over a week ago, now is the time to front up with some proof, and stop locking workers out,” James Ritchie, National Secretary of the Dairy Workers Union said today.

“Open Country is now defying a Court injunction by refusing to let workers back to work.”

“An Employment Court ruling late on Friday found that the lockout of workers was illegal. These workers are still being prevented from returning to their jobs, for no good reason.”

“The company says it has concerns about environmental sabotage.”

“A healthy pinch of salt needs to accompany these allegations, which come from a company that was fined $55,000 in 2007 and $11,000 earlier this year by Environment Waikato for willful environmental damage, including dumping 250,000 litres of rotten milk in a large pit they dug.”

“Our members want to return to work. They want Open Country to show some leadership and come back to the negotiating table with a willingness to respond to their desire, and right, to have a collective agreement that covers their work and some basic job security protections.”

“The Court has told Open Country to stop the lockout. If there is surveillance footage, release it. It’s time to put up or shut up,” James Ritchie said.

For more info about the dispute, click here: http://www.nzdwu.labor.net.au/news/. Outstanding issues for the workers are hours of work and roster changes, redundancy and restructuring protection, length of time temporary workers serve and their ratio to permanent workers, and paid meal breaks. No wage claim is on the table.

ENDS

© Scoop Media