Union Wants Lockout Lifted for Everyone

The Meat Workers Union says Talley's Affco workers are only striking in solidarity with locked out workers and the company can lift the lockout at any time.

Meat Workers Union general secretary Dave Eastlake says the union wants the company to agree to a timetable to completely lift the lockout.

“We are prepared to lift strike action provided the company will agree a timetable to completely lift the lockout on all workers,” he says. “The strike is only in place in response to the lockout which does not cover all union members. It is not viable that 900 workers remain locked out while 500 others work – this simply enables the company to meet its needs while continuing to inflict hardship on those locked out”. 

Dave Eastlake said that Affco approached the union on Friday, 27th April asking the union to lift all strike action immediately, if Affco then reinstated the locked out workers over an almost 5 week period ending 25 May and on a number of unacceptable terms.

“The union is seeking an urgent Court hearing on the legality of the lock out, this or a settlement of the collective would mean workers are entitled to return to work immediately” Dave Eastlake said. “While we indicated we would be prepared to agree a phasing back to work arrangement over the next two weeks in accordance with the collective agreement seniority provisions, the companies offer is simply another attempt to meets its production requirements over the period rather than end this dispute”.

“The company’s reputation is under pressure because of the harshness it has inflicted on these families. This weekend it begun to reframe its campaign to suggest this is all the unions fault. We expect to see the attacks on the integrity of the union and its members increase in the next few weeks in an effort by the company to shift focus from the impact this lockout is having on working families.”

Dave Eastlake said that mediation is set down for Monday and Tuesday this week and the union is calling on Affco to adopt a reasonable stance in bargaining so the dispute can be resolved.

“The lockout is totally unnecessary. It is hurting families. It is time to resolve this dispute”.

ENDS.

© Scoop Media