Key's Access law locks out union

Helen Kelly, CTU President said today that union officials are being denied access to the workers in the CMP Rangitiki plant which shows that John Key's union access law is unreasonable and puts us at risk of being in breach of international conventions.

Helen Kelly said "CMP Rangitiki has used Key's new law to deny the union access to workers who are being used to work through the lockout. Stopping this union official from entering a plant during what is turning into an increasingly bitter dispute unfairly tips the balance of power towards the employer in this case. The union sent a request to the employer Friday. The Employer is required to make a decision within a day but has instead written back asking for more information. This is the very type of technique Key said would not be used when we challenged him on the law. The law is clear on the reasons unions can access workplaces and these are not required in an application. The fact the employer is even required to give permission is now being used to deny access."

"The law withholding unions access to workplaces unless the employer agrees is a deliberate attempt to undermine the union in the workplace and in this dispute. The union wants to go to the plant to provide information on the union to those continuing to work. It believes the employer has mislead these workers and is denying access to ensure they are not able to access union membership information. Using this law to deny the union access to workers continuing to work through the lockout obstructs their democratic right to bargain collectively and get union advice and support."

"There is growing international attention to this lockout - denying access to a union official is a breach of international law, anti democratic and will damage ANZCO/CMPs international image as a place where consumers want to buy their meat from."

ENDS

Additional info:

Japanese unions have expressed concern that the companies they work for may be involved in the attempt by ANZCO to reduce workers wages at CMP Rangitikei by 20% and that workers at the plant have been locked out. They have raised the matter with their employers and seeking an

explanation of whether or not the companies support the moves by ANZCO. Additionally, the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF), has launched a solidarity campaign in support of meat workers who have been locked out by lamb processor, CMP, a subsidiary of ANZCO Foods. Further information can be found here http://union.org.nz/ANZCOlockout

Unite, the largest trade union in the UK and Ireland, has also written to Waitrose about one of their suppliers, ANZCO/CMP breaking core ILO principles reminding them of their commitment to corporate social responsibility. the letter can be found here http://union.org.nz/sites/union.org.nz/files/c%20mayfield%20161111.pdf

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