How is it possible that the Department of Labour mediation service hasn’t got the parties together in the Open Country Cheese dispute. Here we have an employer continuing a lockout in clear defiance of an Employment Court ruling and no sign of action from Kate Wilkinson’s Department.
If it had been a union defying a court ruling like this we would be hearing volumes from the Minister of Labour, the Prime Minister, Employers’ organisations etc.
Just because there is a recess on there is no excuse to go on a stopwork yourself Kate.
Trevor said:
“If it had been a union defying a court ruling like this we would be hearing volumes from the Minister of Labour, the Prime Minister, Employers’ organisations etc.”
Any proof of this Trevor? Have we had a single example of this government coming down on unions not complying with a court ruling? Isn’t it just possible that a right wing government by nature is less inclined to get involved in matters that are either related to an individule private matter or currently before the courts?
It probably never crossed Calamity Kate’s mind that you might be able to do something about the situation. Remember her folic acid fiasco – there was nothing she could do about that either.
Where does National Ltd get these people? Calamity Kate, Basher Bennett, Chopper Tolley, and Crusher Collins – is there an idiot factory in Molesworth Street?
BLiP – LOL – more posts, you’re funny.
Yeah BLiP – I used to think it was a gender balance thing gone wrong – especially when you add Pansy Wong. But then I looked over the other side and saw Gerry Brownlee, Chris Finlayson, Nick Smith and Wayne Mapp (and that was when I still thought English was an asset to them). It is going to be an interesting reshuffle at the end of the year.
Trevor, good question. Under the humour, BLiP is on to it. I’m sure the problem will turn out to be Calamity Kate’s staffer cancelling the meeting.
They are big boys and all grown up with a big union on one side and a coomercial operator on the other. Let them sort it out themselves, the last thing we need is a government getting involved with a strike that might affect the critical supply of fancy cheeses to the posh people in Ponsonby.
Part of the problem, David, is that it is not a strike. Nor is it a lockout. Both of those are legal in a dispute such as this. The suspension of 38 workers for no lawful reason is the real problem. The company is refusing to allow them back to work, even though there is no strike or lockout happening.
The company is thumbing its nose at the law and by extension, the government that is meant to uphold the law. I can’t for the life of me think why the Minister of Labour wouldn’t take an interest. Many of her mates in the National Party certainly do; no surprise really, they’re shareholders in OCC.
Trev – yeah, and lets not forget that other bozo Maurice Williamson. The list goes on and on and on . . .
I’m not really one for conspiracy theories but do you suppose National Ltd’s big business masters insist the front bench MP’s collectively be so dense that light bends around them?
I think Maurice is one of the brighter better performers notwithstading the fact that he makes some mistakes. Hope they don’t put him back into Cabinet which would happen if it was talent based.
I agree she should definitely do something about this.
The Dairy Workers Union has an information website happening http://www.nzdwu.org.nz, that could be checked out by those so far unwilling to let the facts intrude on a good story.
Gender balance be damned. I think the issue is the balance between sentient and non-sentient.
I want 38 of our families to have their incomes protected through getting back to work withsome normal employment standards guaranteed by a collective agreement. Where is the Minister of Labour? How can rogue employers be allowed to ignore the ruling of the employment court? Why is she not directing her department to direct the Parties to get back to the negotiating table?
Will she let the dispute run until the damage done is so great it cannot be repaired?
The dairy Workers Union will continue to mobilise until there is a resolution – make no mistake about that.
You have a strong and well funded union and a strong well funded company and ample legislation and access to the courts. Harden up and stop expecting the government to sort out yevery problem.
End result of your call is you expect someone like Kate Wilkinson to sort out all your issues for you. Grow up.
[Edited, abuse. You're on a warning - admin]
David, Unions and employers indeed go head to head from time to time. In this case the union has accessed the court as they are entitled to, and received a ruling on the matter of the lockout-it is clearly illegal, a ruling which Open Country Cheese now refuses to implement. Now what do righties usually say about people that defy the courts? Perhaps an exemption to compliance with the pesky Employment Court is granted to union busting, polluting, National party funders?
That sludge pouring into the Waitoa doesn’t sound like a good thing. I’ll be sure not to purchase Talleys/OCC products in the future.
Many workers are on the strike for many different reasons. As you heard, one of Auckland’s bus companies is on strike today and approx 15,000 passengers are gonna find a ride to work and home by car, ferry and bike, I think, is better than nothing. I don’t know what happens to the cheese factory in Waharoa now, but I hope everything will work out between the Union and workers.