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Source: ONE News -
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More than 750 Affco freezing workers have been locked out this morning as a long time pay dispute with management comes to a head.
The Meat Workers Union and Affco have been at loggerheads over the past 18 months over a collective employment agreement dispute.
The lockout notice came into affect for 762 workers at 5am this morning after a last ditch attempt at resolving the conflict over a collective contract failed last night, affecting workers at five different North Island plants.
The notice affects workers at Moerewa, Horotiu, Imlay, Wairoa and Manawatu plants.
It affects only two thirds of union members, with Affco keeping
one third on to run the plant.
The union says it has put forward a new proposal but workers
affected by the lock-out will go without pay while the company
considers it.
The two parties have been negotiating a new agreement for the past three months and Affco says there are significant hurdles to go through before it will be resolved.
Meat Workers Union secretary Dave Eastlake earlier said the company is trying to "starve workers" into accepting major changes to its collective employment agreement, giving the company total flexibility in its terms of employment.
"Our members will be shocked that this company, now wholly owned by the Talley family, has taken such a cruel and unnecessary step in order to get exactly what it wants in their employment agreement," he said in a statement on Friday.
But Affco said in a statement that the company wants employment agreements similar to those its competitors enjoy.
"The company is fighting as to who manages Affco. Essentially it is a struggle over management control".
"We cannot and will not accept the productivity destroying arrangements proposed by the Union. Most of our competition do not have to contend with such restrictions."
The company has listed a number of issues, including the company's right to determine with flexibility the setting of manning and process line speeds, as well as dispute resolutions, drug testing, and the training of new and existing employees.
Affco said it has offered a 2.3% increase to current paid rates for year one and a further 2.0% for year two, "if agreement is reached without dispute and adherence to those provisions which are enjoyed by the majority of Affco's competitors".
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