The New Zealand Meatworkers Union's battle in Wairoa with Affco New Zealand is heading to the highest court in the land.
The Supreme Court has given Affco leave to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling that Affco unlawfully locked out union workers across its North Island plants when collective bargaining was taking place.
The Supreme Court appeal is based on whether the Court of Appeal was correct in finding a breach of the Employment Relations Act (ERA) had occurred when Affco required seasonal workers to enter into new individual employment agreements before commencing work for the 2015/2016 season.
The Court of Appeal upheld an Employment Court decision that the lockout was unlawful.
"It is obvious that Affco's objective was to undermine or compromise the parallel process of negotiating a collective agreement which was then under way with the union," the Court of Appeal said.