Talley's lockout settlement conference this Thursday

Press Release: Meat Workers Union

Tuesday 24 April 2012, 9:45am

Talley's lockout settlement conference this Thursday

The Meat Workers Union and Talley's will attend a settlement conference to discuss the legality of the AFFCO lockout this Thursday 26 April.

A settlement conference is a confidential meeting between two parties in front of an employment Judge. The Judge will give an interim opinion on the legality of the case to give each party the opportunity to consider their positions before the matter goes to a full court hearing.

An employment court hearing to decide on the legality of the lockout was postponed by the Cheif Judge yesterday, following concerns he would not be able to hear all of the evidence in the two days planned for yesterday and today.

The union filed an urgent interim injunction on the lockout following the decision and will be given a date at the end of this Thursday's settlement conference.

The union is also waiting for a date for facilitated bargaining so collective agreement negotiations can continue.

500 more meat workers locked out on ANZAC day

Mr Eastlake says Talley's will lock out a further 500 workers for twenty four hours on ANZAC day tomorrow.

“Tomorrow will be the second time Talley's have locked out AFFCO workers on a public holiday,” he says. “Talley's followed through with a threat to lockout workers over Easter if they went on strike in solidarity with locked out familiy members and workmates."

Mr Eastlake says tomorrow will be the first time in recent memory that AFFCO's North Island freezing works will be open on ANZAC day.

“When Talley's took full control of AFFCO two years ago, they stopped honouring the good working relationship we had developed with the company over 60 years. Tomorrow Talley's will also end a tradition of honouring our fallen solidiers by closing the plants on ANZAC day.”

Mr Eastlake says 500 workers will be strike in solidarity with 900 locked out workers for a third consecutive week from 5am Friday 27 April to 5am Friday 4 May.

Locked out workers will be joining services around the country tomorrow morning.

ENDS

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