AFFCO meat workers begin two-day lockout strike

March 12: More AFFCO meat workers have begun the scheduled 48 hour strike this morning following the lockout of over 1000 workers locked out at the end of last month.

Around 700 Meat Workers Union members have begun striking since 5am this morning in support of the 1000 meat workers locked out since February 29.

Management at AFFCO are standing their ground on claims that production would not be halted due to the strikes as it has weathered similar strikes in the past.

The strike-affected meat processing plants include areas of Moerewa, Horotiu, Rangiuru, Wairoa, Fielding and Whanganui, with workers at the Wiri and Napier plants planning further strikes from Wednesday to Thursday later this week.

The dispute follows disagreements between management and the Meat Workers Union regarding policies over flexible hiring practices within the company.

This morning’s strike will continue until 5am Wednesday, where workers at Wiri and Napier will follow in their footsteps on the corresponding morning.

March 9: AFFCO meat workers from eight North Island meat-work plants will be coordinating a two day strike from early next week.

Members of the Meat Workers Union are also planning work bans on overtime as well as refusing to train new employees used to take over from workers locked out of the meat-work plants.

Union workers from the eight North Island plants including Moerewa, Wiri, Horotiu, Rangiuru, Fielding, Whanganui, Wairoa and Napier be initiating the strike from Monday through to the end of Tuesday next week.

National secretary of the MWU, Dave Eastlake, says in addition to the Monday-Tuesday strike, Wednesday and Thursday next week are also being considered as windows of opportunity to continue the strike.

March 6: Over 200 AFFCO meat workers have been locked out of their workplaces today following a nationwide strike late last week.

A further 213 meat workers have been barred from entering AFFCO's Rangiuru plant since 5am this morning.

The lockout of another 213 workers falls on top of last weeks 776 additional meat workers, bringing the total of those locked out to 989.

March 1: Unionised meat workers will tomorrow be demonstrating their support for meat workers who were locked out of Affco meatwork plants on Wednesday this week by organising a strike.

Affco chief executive Hamish Simson said there may be more than 1200 workers involved with tomorrow's strike, including the 776 workers locked out earlier this week.

Feb 29: More than 760 meat workers have been locked out of their meat processing plants today following failed attempts to settle union disputes during a meeting between meat processor AFFCO and the meat workers union yesterday.

AFFCO has issued a lockout notice to the workers, preventing union workers from entering the plants indefinitely, which commenced at 5am this morning.

Trio of major strikes this week

Feb 27: Unions have been gearing up for a big week of industrial action as strikes and lockouts are planned at three separate companies.

About 300 wharfies in the Maritime Union of New Zealand started their three-week strike at the Ports of Auckland on Monday – during peak export season.

It will be the longest strike yet in the protracted dispute, nearing its fifth month, which centres on port plans to contract out jobs.

Ports of Auckland says the strikes have disrupted more than $1 billion worth of trade and caused the loss of $25 million worth of business to the port.

Industrial tensions are back on the boil Affco New Zealand.

A lockout threat from the meat processor’s owner, Talleys Group, will affect more than 700 workers at five North Island meat processing plants on Wednesday.

Union members have been on strike over the last 18 months over conditions of the collective contract.

Later in the week, up to 1500 caregivers and nursing staff at the Oceania resthome chain across the country will join the action when they strike on Thursday.