AFFCO lockout enters 24th day

CTU Media Release
23 March 2012
AFFCO lockout enters 24th day

Once again we are seeing a long lockout of meat workers. The Talley’s AFFCO lockout is in its 24th day following a 65 day lockout by ANZCO CMP late in 2011.

Peter Conway, Secretary, says that “it is time the Meat Industry Association takes some responsibility for this dangerous trend in the industry. This is damaging the brand of New Zealand meat exports.”

“During the CMP lockout, the large UK retailer, Waitrose, expressed its concern about selling a product which that didn’t meet its ethical trading stance. Now we see Talley’s AFFCO adopting a similarly brutal stance to its workers in an attempt to starve them into submission when the union is ready and willing to negotiate a fair and reasonable collective agreement.”

Peter Conway said that around 1000 workers are locked out and the union is on occasions engaged in strike action by other members not locked out. These strikes in support of collective bargaining were only initiated after the lockout.

Peter Conway said that the Meat Industry Association cannot sit idly by in this situation.

“This is our export sector. If we can’t have decent jobs in the export sector it is little wonder people are leaving New Zealand for Australia in record numbers.”
ENDS

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