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Industrial dispute at cheese factory can be avoided, says union
14 September 2009
latest on lockout threat
The Dairy Workers Union says that an industrial dispute at Talleys-owned Open Country Cheese can be avoided if the company is serious about addressing its workers' concerns around job security in the midst of a recession.
The company and the union were in mediation late last week, which failed to reach a resolution. Last week the union's notice of strike action, due to start this Wednesday, was met with the threat of a 6 week lockout.
"In the middle of a recession all workers are rightly concerned about their job security. Open Country Cheese wants to implement changes that would strip away workers' protections in situations of roster changes, redundancies and the use of temporary workers," said James Ritchie, National Secretary of the Dairy Workers Union.
"The changes are significant, and if implemented would considerably disrupt the work patterns of staff at Open Country, undermine their security of employment and leave them with large gaps in their income during parts of the year."
"Open Country Cheese should front up and admit that they want to bring in increased seasonal and casual work patterns to the dairy workforce, rather than pretend this dispute is about pay rates."
No wage claim was on the table, Mr Ritchie said. Outstanding issues for the workers are hours of work and roster changes, redundancy and restructuring protection, length of time temporary workers serve and their ratio to permanent workers, and paid meal breaks, he said.
For further comment: James Ritchie: (021) 554-994
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