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IUF launches solidarity campaign against CMP/ANZCO
CTU Media Release
16 November 2011
IUF launches solidarity campaign
against CMP/ANZCO
Ron Oswald, General Secretary of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF), has today launched a solidarity campaign in support of meat workers who have been locked out by lamb processor, CMP, a subsidiary of ANZCO Foods.
Ron Oswald, IUF General Secretary said “this campaign will bring international attention to a growing and disturbing trend that we’re seeing internationally of malicious forms of anti-worker tactics like lengthy lock outs and unreasonable claims.”
CTU President, Helen Kelly, said “the IUF is a major international organisation, currently made up of 336 trade unions in 120 countries, they represent a combined representational membership of over 12 million workers, their support through this campaign is significant.”
“CMP, a subsidiary of ANZCO Foods, has harshly locked out 111 workers at its plant in Marton, in order to force them and their union, the New Zealand Meat Workers Union, to sign off on pay cuts of between 20 - 30% and unacceptable changes to terms and conditions,” said Ron Oswald.
Helen Kelly said “this lock out is causing great financial hardship to the workers and their families. The union movement in New Zealand has rallied around these workers with donations and support, and having the international arm of their union show their solidarity through an international campaign will put pressure on ANZCO Foods to be reasonable and boost morale and resolve of the locked out workers.”
“The workers have offered to take a 10% pay cut in an effort to try and move the company to be reasonable, which will have huge implications for them, but the company has rejected this offer and the lockout continues.”
The campaign asks workers across the world to send a message to ANZCO Foods demanding an end to the lockout and a return to the bargaining table. More information about the campaign can be found here: http://cms.iuf.org/?q=node/1220
Ron Oswald is in New Zealand and available for comment.
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