Media release: Council of Trade Unions Rūnanga
Māori workers unite behind striking meat workers
The representative body for Māori union members is voicing its support for striking meat workers while calling on te iwi Māori to do the same, says Council of Trade Unions (CTU) Vice-President Māori Syd Keepa.
“The CTU Rūnanga is backing the meat workers decision to strike at AFFCO plants on August 10 and 11.”
“We’re also calling on te iwi Māori to voice their support as well,” says Keepa.
“AFFCO’s stubborn refusal to offer decent pay and conditions overwhelmingly impacts Māori workers and their whānau. More than 70 percent of the AFFCO workforce is Māori.”
“In 2012, after negotiations between the Meat Workers’ Union and the Talley’s Group collapsed, hundreds of Māori workers were locked out of AFFCO’s meat processing plants. This led to months of hardship for many whānau and was only resolved after iwi intervention,” says Keepa.
“The days of treating Māori workers as factory-fodder are over. The meat workers deserve dignity and respect at work, but AFFCO is only offering contempt.”
