There have been no major strikes in the dairy industry in over 20 years. The union is generally seen as one that works very constructively with employers especially on productivity and literacy.
Enter Open Country Cheese (and especially Talleys who seem to have the worst industrial relations reputation in NZ).
They have attempted to compete with not only really favourable milk price arrangements but also with lower wages than other companies.
The union has not been able to negotiate a fair industrial agreement. It has given 14 days notice of industrial action.
OCCs (Talley’s) response has been interesting. Their chair Laurie Margrain has called the industrial action “wildcat” – with 14 days notice – huh.
He has then called for the dairy industry to get the same level of recognition as an essential industry as the Police. Even Kate Wilkinson isn’t that gulliable. But no offer to have binding arbitration as with the Police.
But now he has issued a lock-out notice for a six week period.
So we have moved from an industry where any strike action was terrible to one where the employer is going on strike for six weeks. Weird.
This dispute has the potential to be a very big one.
Dont under estimate the effect big donations to the national party will get you when it comes to industrial action.
But OCC cant really wring their hands over farm milk poured down the drains since they buy it from Fonterra mostly who can still use it for themselves
when you say big donations – are you talking as big as owen glenn ones?
This does indeed have the potential to be a hard-fought dispute. There is little endearing in OCC’s behaviour or its backers’ traditions. The DWU deserves support, particularly as it has been at the forefront of progressive debate in ER over the last twenty years. Fortuantely, they have real strengths across leadership and rank-and-file.
Apologies Trevor for what i am about to say.
bikerkiwi: Are you a complete (deleted obscene abuse Trevor) or just a National Party wanna a be?
If you really just want to be Nationals and David Farrer’s “Bitch” then David has a perfectly adequate site for you to babble on and add nothing constructive to this site.
It’s called Kiwiblog and David has plenty of like minded idiots as you with nothing better to do and nothing better to say.
Sorry again Trevor but in my Defence, i could not help my self. He and his ilk are why i can not be bothered entering any discussions at KB.
(Yes JohnDee bikerkiwi’s ability to continue participate on Red Alert is finely balanced. I have got several messages that his approach is putting a range of people off both reading and contributing and I’m certainly not going to have one individual drag Red Alert down. Trevor)
I’m not surprised since fairness is both impossible to define and conclude in an industrial agreement.
No it’s not but I’m not surprised that you think so.
Perfect opportunity to fly in a few plane loads of Filipinos to do the work and drop the minimum wage.
Draco, Gooner….thanks for the “pithy” remarks. (Deleted not necessary Trevor).
Seriously though, I suspect that OCC has overplayed this one. If it were a far more dare I say “militant” union, then you could make the case that OCC’s actions were understandable. With the dairy union, Trev’s right, these guys generally try to avoid a massive conflict – and so they should, an industrial dispute in an industry that large has the potential to hurt a lot of people on the sidelines.
Secondly I have limited knowledge about the relationship between OCC and Talleys (although OCC has a link on the Talley’s website). I do know a bit more about Talleys and their IR reputation.
But it’s a long bow to connect OCC’s actions to the political actions of Talley owners/directors.
Besides, there’s plenty of information about their conduct already. Thanks Nicky!
I also want to know what is fair .. to the employer it maybe 2%, to the worker on struugle street it maybe 20%
Cactus:
So long as the company involved is registered in Belize?
I can be flippant too.
Theres about 30 companies registered to the Talley Bros in NZ. Maybe they dont require the services of an overpriced offshore tax lawyer after all.
Do we have any word on what the union is seeking? OCC themselves have come out and said that it amounts to a 46% increase in labour costs…
It concerns me that people immediately jump to the side of the workers, assuming that big company = in the wrong.
I’m not saying they don’t have a valid case, it’s just that this article and what I can find out seems light on detail/ heavy on emotion
OCC has actively resisted employees attempts to unionise. Last time I looked we had freedom of association in this country. Have no illusions about Talleys. This is a Nat funding anti union company.
In the infamous Caitlin Lewis case, the woman worker was prevented from becoming a fish filleter at the Talleys Motueka plant because she was a female. Her intial complaint in 2002 to the Human Rights Commission was upheld by the Human Rights Tribunal in 2005. Talleys appealed and in 2007 the High Court rejected the appeal saying it “was a clear case of discrimination” and awarded compensation to Lewis. Andrew Talley said at the time “Pole dancing is is a job best suited to women. Fish filleting, on the other hand, is more a job for the blokes. Lovely, from a supposed “captain of industry”.
What the union is seeking is a collective employment agreement and a better working life.
I wonder if Ms Cactus believes truly in the free movement of labour (all labour, that is, not just privileged skilled labour taking advantage of international skills shortages) around the world. Or is she simply reminding us that she is alive and beyond the reach of ‘Gotcha’? If it is the former, it would be consistent with a true Hayekian position (free trade, free investment, free movement of labour). The problem is even her own style of governments (fortunately few and far between, if indeed ever to exist) are rigidly opposed to such freedom of movement for labour (as has been her own chosen bolt-hole, Hong Kong, for a very long time). I imagine that she will also be firmly against any of those professional monopoly organisations like the Law Society, so clearly in restraint of trade. Such a flawed world.
Alec, what does a sexual discrimination case in a Motueka fish factory have to do with this situation?!
Again, do we have any actual facts about what the union is after? Do they not have a collective agreement at the moment? Do they want wage increases? A better working life? Well, you’d hope so, kinda the whole point of a union!!
Robert
What are you on about now? I have never paid any fees to the NZ Law Society (a NZ employer may have once on my behalf but that’s not my choice), nor am I a current member.
Abbie’s Ghost
If it was doing business in NZ like this company is (OCC), there would be no point. It is pretty hard to physically move an entire plant offshore. Although ask Fisher & Paykel where they’ve packed up for cheap labour sources which is where this lot will be headed if they have any sense.
At least when I am flippant it is relevant.
Nathan, as I understand it the up to 46% quoted by the Talleys’ high-priced PR firm related to an initial claim by the union to lift the wages to industry standards. That shows how far behind these guys are. That claim has since been amended, as they always are in negotiations. Talley’s is just being mischevious, this dispute is largely about job security and Talleys’ attempt to casualise the workforce anyway.
Nothing can be provided at less than cost price and if the wages are driving the workers into poverty (ie, less than cost price) then it’s fair to say that they aren’t high enough.
Life’s not fair Draco. Get used to it. There is no such thing as “fair” just as there is no such thing as “justice” which is why I laugh when the SST scream out for justice for victims of crime. What they really mean is retribution and that’s not justice just as more money for workers is not a solution to fairness.
It’s unfair to be paid less for doing the same job, just because your employers are a bunch of anti-union thugs.
Blessed are the cheesemakers, for they shall be resolute in their fight for the right to bargain collectively and join a union if they choose.
And further more, they shall take up this struggle in Waharoa which just happens to be the dead centre of the North Island. They deserve our support.
Amen.
Ghost who walks said (above) “Dont under estimate the effect big donations to the national party will get you when it comes to industrial action.”
I did not know that Wyatt Creech was still involved in OCC, but there may be a National Party history for you.
Enough of the “cheesy” stuff from the employer. Get on with it!
Gooner, I was only suggesting that the employers pay for what they’re using rather than trying not to pay for it.
Thanks for the comments Trevor and thanks for the dialogue to all. In response to the question re what are the workers after I provide the following info.
There is no wage increase on the table. Workers are seeking a collective agreement which protects them from being made temporary or casual at any time. They want a say on how their rosters and hours of work can be changed so their family lives are not disrupted without notice and consultation. They want temp workers to be paid the same rate for the job after 3 months. They want temp workers to be made permanent after 11 months service. They want redundancy compensation if made redundant and they want to be paid for a meal break if they can’t leave the plant. – Most of all they want to be treated as human beings- not a commodity to be tossed aside when no longer required. They want decent jobs.
Meanwhile, I’m wondering why making cheese is considered to be an “essential service” in the same category as running a hospital. Talk about government for farmers…
If any Labour MP wants to do something about it, here’s a quick and dirty member’s bill:
http://progbills.wikidot.com/employment-relations-essential-services-amendment-bill
Looking at the Bigger Picture, I personally think OCC Management is worried about the other OCC Sites(Wanganui,Awarua)if the DWU achieve what there members want then the others might want the same. That’s why they have taken the aggressive attitude towards its workers joining the DWU.
Hopefully the DWU and OCC Management can come to a suitable compromise, as both parties loose if a strike takes place or workers are locked out.
Also if a picket line is put outside OCC, No DWU Member will cross it. Meaning No DIRA Milk.
Anyone who wants to help the OCC DWU workers financially can do so by making a donation to the “Solidarity Fund” Bank of New Zealand – # 02 0320 0082084 026.
Despite the members offering to return to work last night and this morning OCC have refused to allow them back in the gate
the workers are off on full pay.
yes but seemingly pay packets are mistakenly short and workers are still being denied their right to return to work let alone getting onto negotiating a collective agreement.
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