Iain Lees-Galloway
MP for Palmerston North
Workplace Relations Spokesperson
Carmel Sepuloni
Social Development Spokesperson
23 September 2016
Government helping Talley’s to break workers
The Ministry for Social Development appears to be assisting Talley’s-Affco replace experienced workers effectively
locked out by the company, say Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni and Workplace Relations
spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway.
“MSD is advertising for meat processing workers for a secret employer in Manawatu where Talley’s-Affco has refused to
re-hire experienced workers who have been active in the Meat Workers’ Union,” says Carmel Sepuloni.
“There is no need for MSD to advertise these jobs. There are experienced people ready and willing to take up that work
today. Social Development Minister Anne Tolley should step in immediately and make sure MSD isn’t being used to
undermine workers who just want their employer to treat them fairly.”
“Talley’s use every trick in the book to weaken the people who work for them,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.
“They’ve used the fact that the work is seasonal to deny union activists work they should be entitled to. They’ve
bullied workers who dare to speak out. Now they are using a Government agency to find people to replace the workers they
have refused to re-hire.
“Talley’s-Affco has been found guilty of multiple health and safety and employment law violations. Instead of going to
war with their workers they should clean up their act and learn to work with their employees not against them. They are
not the type of business a Government agency should be in bed with,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.
ends