A strike at Moerewa's Affco freezing works has been called off for now after talks between company owners, union officials and iwi leaders.
Workers were to have gone on strike yesterday and today at Affco plants around the country. A rally had also been scheduled to take place at Parliamenttoday and the Meat Workers' Union (NZMWU) was planning other protest action targeting Talley's, the firm that owns the freezing works.
The announcement came after NZMWU shed presidents and secretaries met company owner Andrew Talley and iwi leaders Ken Mair and Tuku Morgan on Sunday. Workers at Affco sites, including Moerewa, will meet in coming days to consider developments.
In 2012, workers were locked out of Affco Moerewa for three months by the firm's owners.
Affco Moerewa is by far the town's biggest employer and only significant industry remaining. The town used to have a dairy plant and a timber mill.
