By: Graham Thomas

Graham Thomas — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 23:03:32 +0000

Unfortunately the Talley Family, owners of AFFCO, South Pacific Meats [SPM], AMALTAL, Creme de la Creme, Guilt Free, Open Country Cheese, Talley’s Frozen Vegetables & Fisheries etc. have continued their agressive approach against their employees and any Union.
At the SPM Awarua & Malvern plants in the South Island, employees are told if they join the Union they will be terminated or expect low pay and the hardest jobs.
The NZ Meat Workers Union had only been negotiating 10 hours (not 18 months) before Michael Talley served lockout notices in Nelson to the National Secretary/President. Michael Talley was out to destroy any organised labour at their Affco plants.
The locked out AFFCO workers and their colleagues that supported them by taking strike action can be extremely proud that they did not collapse. By being strong and united they came away with a Collective Employment Agreement and a Union that can rebuild.
The IWI hui was the start of that rebuild.
Over time the NZ Union movement will be able to negotiate Collective Agreements at all of the Talley Family owned businesses.

Comments on: A Broader Union

By: Graham Thomas