Significant Progress in AFFCO dispute
Joint Media Statement
21st May 2012
Significant Progress in AFFCO dispute
After a full day of negotiations in Auckland yesterday the parties to the long running industrial dispute at the AFFCO meat works have made significant progress and are now working quickly towards trying to reach a final agreement for union members to ratify.
The parties today reached provisional agreement on the core document and are now working towards the settlement of specific site documents.
As part of a joint commitment to building a new type of relationship the parties have agreed and committed to a return to work within a short time frame of all workers and the withdrawal or suspension of all legal action while the final details are agreed.
The union and the owners of AFFCO (Talley Group) have been greatly assisted by the Iwi Leaders Forum who were represented at the negotiations today and wish to jointly acknowledged the role this group has played in working with both sides to find solutions that will enable the company to thrive in the future and the workers to work under fair and reasonable conditions.
The Iwi leadership forum members including Ken Mair, Tukoroirangi Morgan and Sonny Tau are adamant that in order to achieve an enduring settlement between the two parties it must be hinged around trust and confidence.
“The commitment by Andrew Talley and senior management to an open and regular dialogue with Union officials goes a long way to restoring confidence and certainty,” said the Iwi leaders.
“We have both sought to learn from this dispute and ensure that moving forward we build in the opportunity for a new type of relationship between the company, the union and its members. We also both value the ongoing commitment from Iwi to support this relationship” Andrew Talley said on behalf of AFFCO.
“Our members will be greatly relieved that we have made this progress today and keenly interested in us moving towards a full settlement. They are very open to making these meat works the best in the country and will welcome a different type of relationship, “ Dave Eastlake Meat Workers General Secretary said.
The parties will be making no further comment while the process is continuing.
ends