Facebook post could cost me my job

Roberta Ratu says Affco was heavy-handed by sending her a warning letter. Photo / John Borren

Bay freezing worker Roberta Ratu fears for her job after she made a Facebook post.

The 46-year-old union member posted on Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell's Facebook page seeking his support over employment agreement negotiations with Affco at its Rangiuru plant.

She sought Mr Flavell's help for the petition, titled Jobs that Count, since he supported Affco workers during a lockout at the plant in 2012.

"We had a shut down on April 15 so we weren't employed by Affco any more, so I went to his [Flavell's] page and just said a little bit about myself, that I was a butcher at Affco but was currently in negotiations with Affco's Talley's and we are waiting for Affco to negotiate a new contract and that's all I said about them."

I never put the company down at all. I never put them in a bad light. I never spoke of them unruly. I never did any of that.

Roberta Ratu

Ms Ratu wrote the Facebook post on April 17.

But the Waitangi resident said she was shocked when she received a warning letter from the company saying she could be dismissed or not re-engaged if she did not remove the post. In the April 28 letter, Affco described her Facebook posting as a "public media release" that breached the company's code of conduct and house rules. Affco had also entered into a bargaining agreement with the union and this required a "consultation process for media releases".

Ms Ratu said she was not counting on getting her job back.

"They are a tough company and they won't like what I have done," she said. "I never put the company down at all. I never put them in a bad light. I never spoke of them unruly. I never did any of that."

Ms Ratu has been with the company for 15 years and was surprised it did not contact her about the post in person.

"They didn't give me a call. I only live two minutes from Affco."

Meat Workers Union national secretary Graham Cooke said the firm's reaction with threats about her future employment was over the top.

"We will not tolerate the targeting of a meat worker whose only offence is to exercise her civil rights to contact her local MP.

"We will stand by Bertie, who has contributed years of commitment and hard work at Affco."

Affco management declined to comment when contacted by the Bay of Plenty Times, saying it was in a bargaining process with the union.

Roberta Ratu's Facebook Post
Kia Ora Te Ururoa. Im a butcher @ Affco Rangiuru and we are currently in negotiations for a new agreement with Affco Talleys. Our last agreement expired in 2013 and we have been working on this one waiting for Talleys to negotiate a new one. At the moment we are covered by the expired agreement. Recently this week we have had a shutdown. When we return, we are not sure what Talleys will be offering the workers - to sign their individual employment agreement (IEA) or continue on our collective employment agreement (CEA) I know you came and supported us when we had a Lockout in 2012 and we really appreciated it. Thank you so much. Now we need your support once again. Can you please sign our petition for JOBS THAT COUNT. All we want is a fair deal.

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