12 Apr 2012

Workers "toughing it out" says union leader

8:36 pm on 12 April 2012

Unionists representing meat workers say they expect a lot of support for their 13 April march through the Northland town of Moerewa.

About 1000 staff have been locked out of some of the company's North Island plants - including 114 at Moerewa - during a six week dispute between AFFCO management and the union.

Meat Workers Union site secretary, Laurie Nankivell, is one of the locked out workers - along with his 25 year old son - and he says it's been a tough six weeks.

But there's been a lot of support for the workers and Mr Nankivell says the union has helped workers as much as possible with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) and its food bank has been working overtime.

His eight children will participate in the march from the Moerewa Rugby Club rooms to the AFFCO plant, he says.

Mr Nankivell says that only 18 local union members have decided to sign individual contracts.