Sealord Nelson Workers Ratify Employment Agreement

For immediate release
8 December 2010

Sealord Nelson Workers Ratify Employment Agreement

Workers at the Sealord Vickerman St site in Nelson have ratified their Collective Employment Agreement, following almost two years of negotiations.

Neville Donaldson, Assistant National Secretary of the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota (SFWU) that represents members on the site, says the process kicked off with the announcement by Sealord in February 2009 that they were considering closing the plant unless the Union reduced labour costs through the restructuring of the Collective Employment Agreement by $1.8 million.

Although there were periods of full and frank discussion, the Union's view is that both parties' key goal was the goal of long term job security for employees of Sealord at Vickerman Street by the introduction of a more flexible collective employment agreement says SFWU Assistant National Secretary Neville Donaldson.

"Although number of provisions have been made more flexible, the earnings of members have been protected and a wage increase of 8% achieved over a 2 year period in addition to a $500 lump sum payment being made to all staff before Christmas," says Neville Donaldson.

"The members are pleased with the final document and I believe that the process undertaken in the last few weeks has given members confidence that their efforts will be valued and that they are viewed as an asset not a liability which was the case for a significant period of time."

More than 90% of members voted in favour of the proposed Collective Employment Agreement.

ENDS

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