Spent part of the morning with the Dairy Workers’ Union including some of the delegates from Open Country Cheese.
Heard a lot about the dispute especially the role of Talleys’ the employer with the worst record under the ECA. Some shocking incidents and a very poor approach from the company.
Those examples will be very useful in developing legislation. I’m surprised that Business NZ or other employer groups have not taken them in hand.
Because the session was in committee can’t say much about it but hope to be able to say more soon.
Are they still suspended? If my facts are right the lockout was ruled illegal, only for the company to turn around and `suspend’ them.
They are certainly not at work.
A big thanks to Trevor for attending the Dairy Workers executive meeting and hearing directly from workers employed by the Talleys Company, Open Country Cheese.
He brought with him a strong message of support from the entire Labour caucus which was warmly received and greatly appreciated. In times when some employers are taking an aggressive approach when workers exercise their universal rights to organise and bargain collectively, it is great to see basic principles of respect and dignity being shown to ordinary working people and their families. The support shown by other unions and Labour MP’s is a fantastic boost to those locked out/suspended by OCC.
Is it true that one of the workers was sacked from OCC, just because he was supporting his brother in the picket line? If yes, oh my god. I think it can’t be right. It doesn’t matter whether he is not a member of the Union or not, but they have no right to fire him. He just wanted to be there for his brother and their colleagues during a lockout. I fully support to all the striking workers, and I hope it will be a positive result for everyone.
Yes
I wonder how much in % terms the Talley group of industry brings to NZ’s internal receipts and export receipts?
I avoid buying Talley’s frozen veges and other stuff they make because of their record, but what brands does OCC make? Maybe Labour should highlight the brands and encourage a boycott?
OCC was convicted and fined twice in the recent years. It doesn’t look good. What the hell is wrong with the management? So, what’s happening now? It’s almost one month now since the incident happened, isn’t it?
I work at a supermarket – accidentally broke a couple of packs of Talley’s frozen peas loading on to shelf the other week. Oooops!
The company’s behaviour sickens me.
@NW – LOL
Well done Trevor for meeting with the OCC workers and hearing first hand about this dispute.
The behaviour of OCC has been outrageous and their continued suspension of the unionised workforce, their sacking of the delegate and their bogus restructuring is unacceptable.
While the Employment Court did rule that locking workers out to get them to sign individual agreements is illegal, the type of behaviour that this company has engaged in shows the weakness of the Employment Relations Act and the importance of some form of arbitration to gain a first collective employment agreement.