The thing about Helen is that everyone loved her : all of us who knew her, worked with her, came into contact with her, fought alongside her, felt that we were special. Knowing Helen was like that and now we share our grief at her loss. 

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Affco New Zealand Ltd against a decision of the Employment Court.  The Employment Court had held that Affco had unlawfully locked out members of the Meat Workers Union.  The Court of Appeal upheld that conclusion.

Ballot papers are out in Local Government elections and it's time to make a decision, if you haven't already. Jobs that Count has endorsed a number of candidates who have signed our pledge to stand up for you and your community. You can find them here. 

This year, Jobs that Count is standing up for you in to the Local Government elections. Jobs that Count candidates are standing in the North Island, including two Meat Workers Union members.  Other candidates are signing up to our Jobs that Count pledge and the support is coming in thick and fast. 

Just over a week ago, Kevin Raymond, who has worked at AFFCO Feilding since 1973, received some devastating news.

The company told him he was not wanted for the new season and would have no work to sustain himself and his family because he's tried to do the right thing by his family in birth and death.

Kevin is accused of "absenteeism" last season. He took a week off when his daughter Violet was born, and then three days when his brother died. 

He's not the only one affected at Feilding. Another worker broke his foot while working last season and that is deemed as "absenteeism" because its a non work accident. This guy had years of dedicated service and came to the plant in a moon boot to help with the barbecue when the plant celebrated their 100 years of service.

There are others as well, and not only at Feilding Manawatu.  At Rangiuru, there are long serving members who have not been re-engaged, with newer workers employed instead. 

There's a long held system of seniority in the meat industry, including AFFCO.  Those with the longest service get priority when it comes to re-engagement after the season.  In AFFCO's case the company can take into account work performance, and they have turned this into a judgement on attendance.   This is despite there being very clear provisions in the expired collective agreement that enables company bosses to follow a disciplinary process where absenteeism is becoming a problem.  

Has Kevin ever had a warning for absenteeism?  Or even a disciplinary discussion?   No. 

There's something going on in AFFCO Talleys.  Why are union members are being denied work in the new season because they had legitimate sick leave, bereavement leave or non work ACC?    

In this day and age, surely we accept that workers will sometimes be sick, will have bereavements, and in some cases, get hurt outside of work?   Sometimes there will be family emergencies that have to be attended to.

Meanwhile, there is a picket going on at Feilding Manawatu.  There will be other actions, but this goes to the heart of modern workplaces.  Family friendly policies and laws have been around for a while now.  Some companies get awards for them.

But AFFCO Talleys has a long way to go. 

When 10,000 people in our community signed a very polite letter to Sir Peter Talley and published it in the Nelson Mail last weekend, the Company’s General Manager Andy Leonard described it as “typical Union sleaze”.

Local Body elections are coming up fast and they matter to MWU members. So many decisions made by Local Council affect their day to day lives, including those that impact on their jobs and plant. Nominations for candidates close on 12th August and the electoral roll closes the same day.  MWU members voices need to be heard.

Every month's a biggie if you work in a Talley's-owned meat works. But the 21at July Appeal Court hearing is huge. AFFCO Talley will try to overturn the Full Bench decision of November 2015 that saw hundreds of meat workers back at work on their old union agreements.

Meat Workers value your support. They their whanau and communities are in a life and death struggle we haven't seen in decades. But if you have other agendas, don't come here.