Affco dispute ends with back-to-work settlement
Meat workers union members will be back on pay from today and will return to work after a 12-week shutdown.
The 12-week-long Affco meatworkers dispute was settled at 5am, according to a statement issued by both parties.
The New Zealand Meat Workers Union and Affco NZ reached an agreement on a new collective employment agreement, which will mean the workers will be back on pay from today and returning to work "over the next short period".
Ratification meetings for the agreement will be completed by next Monday.
Union president Mike Nahu said: “The settlement secures the core issues of concern to our members.
"It retains protection of wages and employment security and ensures workers continue to have their terms and conditions set by a union negotiated agreement.
“These 12 weeks have tested our union and its members to the core and they have shown incredible commitment to their principles and to each other.
"Families have suffered extensive hardship and they will be extremely relieved to see the end of the dispute and to return to jobs they love and know they are good at."
Company director Andrew Talley said: “This settlement is welcome at the end of a difficult time for everyone.
"I am looking forward to spending additional time around the meat plants and working with the union and its members to continue to improve these meat plants making them the best performing in the country.”
Ken Mair, representing the Iwi Leadership Forum, played a key role in brokering the settlement along with other leaders from the group.
“Our role was to bring an end to the hardship our whanau were suffering and to find a way to meet the needs of both parties into the future.
"I know our communities will be greatly relieved this dispute is over and we are committed to continuing to support a better relationship between the company and the union in the future, “ he said.
NBR staff
Tue, 22 May 2012
Tue, 22 May 2012
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Affco dispute ends with back-to-work settlement
20864