Iwi leaders have helped prevent a strike at Affco Imlay.
Members of the Meat Workers' Union from Imlay and seven other Affco meat works in the North Island had planned to strike yesterday and today over a breakdown in the collective contract negotiations.
Darien Fenton, head of organising at the Meat Workers' Union, said union leaders had met with Andrew Talley from Talley's and iwi leaders Ken Mair, from Wanganui iwi Tupoho, and Tuku Morgan on Saturday. The strike was called off after this meeting.
The Meat Workers' Union and Talley's-owned Affco had been negotiating over the collective contract for more than 18 months.
One of the major sticking points was the seniority clause, which gives workers with the greatest experience first refusal of jobs at the start of a new season. Affco wants to get rid of the clause, while the union is adamant it should remain.