Talley's to lock out striking AFFCO workers

Talley's to lock out striking AFFCO workers during Easter

Press release: Meat Workers Union

Monday, 19 March 2012 at 9.15am.

Talley's to lock out striking AFFCO workers during Easter

A letter from Talley's says it will lock out all AFFCO workers who takes industrial action between March 19 and April 16 on Easter Friday and Easter Monday

The news comes as the Meat Workers Union announces a 48 hour strike in solidarity with 1,000 locked out AFFCO workers from 5am this Thursday.

Talley's extended it's original indefinite lock out of 750 meat workers on February 29 to 1,000 workers on March 6 at six of its eight North Island AFFCO plants, despite saying it wouldn't widen the lockout.

Dave Taurima, from Rongomaiwahine, has worked as a freezing hand at AFFCO Wairoa for seven years. Six of his ten children live at home. The company locked Mr Taurima out, but not his daughter Justeen who also works at the plant.

"Talley's AFFCO is telling my daughter that she'll be punished if she stands up for her locked out old man," he says. "Talley's said they wouldn't lock out any more workers but we've already learnt that there is a difference between what they say and what they do."

Dale Robinson, from Ngati Kahungunu, a slaughterman and MWU president at AFFCO Wairoa, say the company will also lock out anyone refusing to work overtime or train replacement labour for locked out workers.

“We're used to this sort of bullying behaviour now and although its intended to demoralise us, we know we've got the support of the community to keep us strong.”

Dr Pita Sharples to official open Wairoa resource centre for locked out workers

At 11:00am today at Wairoa Taiwhenua on Marine Parade west, Wairoa, 1 ½ hours from Napier, Dr Pita Sharples, Minister of Maori Affairs and Maori Party co-leader, will open a resource centre

He will also talk with locked-out workers from 12.15pm to 1.15pm and hold further meetings until he leaves Wairoa at 3.15pm.

Community rally in Palmerston North
Locked out and striking AFFCO workers, striking Oceania workers and Ports of Auckland workers will join a rally at 5:30pm today in Palmerston North.
ENDS
• The letter from Talley's AFFCO is attached.
http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1203/Talleys_letter_to_workers_re_easter_lockout.pdf

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