Labour has urged Talley’s to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute with AFFCO workers which is having a severe effect on the employees, their families and their communities, Labour’s Workplace Relations spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says.
“Opposition Leader Andrew Little and I have written to Sir Peter and Michael Talley to express our concern about the 170 Wairoa workers who have been locked out of their workplace since last September.
“These workers have been unable to pay their rent and other bills. Some have been issued eviction notices and many are relying on donations of food to feed their families.
“Labour is particularly concerned about the effect this is having on their children.
“This lockout has already been deemed illegal by the Employment Court.
“We are also concerned about workers in seven other AFFCO plants who were also deemed to have been locked out. At these plants union members have been moved onto shifts they cannot work, pay has been cut, key delegates sacked, workers punished for wearing union-branded t-shirts and there are ongoing health and safety concerns.
“Labour calls on Talley’s to resume talks, in good faith, to resolve this dispute for the sake of everyone effected,” Iain Lees-Galloway says.
