Press release: Meat Workers Union
Wedneday 21, March 2012
Meat Workers Conference Votes To Financially Back Locked Out Workers, Third Strike Day

Union delegates representing 20,000 meat workers passed a unanimous resolution to financially support locked out Talley's AFFCO workers at a national conference today.

Seventy union delegates from Talley's AFFCO major competitiors, including CMP workers who were locked out for nine weeks last year, attended the two day Meat Workers Union (MWU) conference in Palmerston North.

MWU National Secretary Dave Eastlake says the much news will be well received as the 1,000 Talley's AFFCO workers and their families struggle into the fourth week of the lockout.

“Meat workers from across New Zealand are standing alongside their locked out co-workers at Talley's AFFCO, both morally and financially,” he says. “Meat workers are concerned Talley's attempts to undermine industry standards and remove workers right to a collective voice at work will force other meat companies to follow suit to stay competitive.”

Strikes on Thursday 22, Friday 23 and now Monday 26
Mr Eastlake says workers will be striking for 48 hours in solidarity with locked out workers from 5am tommorow.

Workers will also strike for 24 hours next Monday 26, despite a threat from Talley's that they will lock out striking workers over Easter, he says.

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• MWU National Secretary Dave Eastlake is available on 0274 322 421
• MWU Aotearoa Branch Secretary Graham Cooke is available on 0274 944 533
• MWU Media liaison Simon Oosterman is available on 021 885 410

Strikes contact details and start times for Thursday 22 and Friday 23

Moerewa:
• Site Secretary: Laurie Nankivell, 027 9191 992
• Thursday and Friday from 5am
• Picket location: Sh 1, Moerewa 0472, New Zealand (Google maps )

Wiri:
• The workplace is 100% union and doesn't require a picket line.

Horotiu:
• Site President: Don Arnold, 022 153 8100
• Thursday and Friday from 5am
• Picket location: Great South Road, Ngaruawahia 3720, New Zealand (Google maps)

Rangiuru:
• Site President: Bill Karati, 027 543 0154
• Site Secretary: Kaipara McGarvey, 029 777 7153
• Thursday and Friday from 5am. Meeting from 12 noon at Rangiuru Rugby Club.
• Picket location: State Highway 2, Rangiuru 3074, New Zealand (Google maps)

Wairoa:
• Site Secretary: Dale Robinson, 0274 466 347
• Meeting at 10am on Thursday. Friday's protest time and location will be determined at the Thursday meeting.

Napier:
• Union organiser: Eric Mischefski, 0274 440 889,
• The workplace is 100% and doesn't require a picket line. Workers will join other pickets.

Feilding:
• Site Secretary: Michael Paltridge, 021 233 5963
• Thursday and Friday from 1pm.
• Picket location: Campbell Road, Feilding 4775, New Zealand (Google maps)

AFFCO Imlay (Whanganui)
• Site President: Ashley Cooper, 027 449 1155
• Thursday and Friday from 1:00pm
• Picket location: Imlay Place, Gonville 4501, New Zealand (Google maps)

ENDS

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