Freezing workers reject package

Press, 31 October 1986, Page 22

Freezing workers reject package

PA Hastings More than 1000 jobless Whakatu freezing workers rejected a redundancy package that offered them substantially less than they claimed, said their advocate, Mr Tony Neary. Mr Neary said after a closed meeting in Hastings the Whakatu dispute could now develop into a national action unless the company offer improved. The meeting was attended by the national secretary of the Meat Workers’ Union, Mr A. J. Kennedy.

The union claims are: • All workers to be paid three months wages with a minimum of $2500 as a payment “in lieu of notice.”

• Five weeks wages for a worker’s first year of service with three weeks for each other year to a maximum of 34 years. • An "emergency trust fund” claim for $2OO for each year of service.

The union claims amount to $13,110 for a worker with seven years and nine months service who was being paid $15,000 a year.

A worker with the same length of service but an income of $24,000 would get $18,429 based on the

union’s claim, while a worker with 20 years service and an income of $24,000 would get $39,721. A pamphlet circulated to union members said management and unions had reached agreement on payment of all unused sick leave, a 10 per cent discount for meat bought at Richmond or Tomoana retail stores for the next four months, and for redundancy payments to be paid to the estate of any worker who had died since the closing announcement.

The Hawke’s Bay Farmers Meat Company had earlier sent the 1900 jobless workers a letter outlining its redundancy package.

The letter detailed examples of what workers would get from the company’s offer.

A worker with seven years and nine months service and an annual income of $15,000 would receive $8983, while a worker with the same length of service but earning $24,000 a year would get $12,133 redundancy money. A worker with 20 years service and annual income of $24,000 would receive $25,560. The offer was the same

as was rejected when talks broke down recently. It includes $2OOO to all workers who qualify for redundancy payments for lack of notice of the closing but it depends on workers accepting a further 10 points as outlined in the five-page letter.. They include:

• Seasonal workers would receive 8 per cent of their annual earnings for the year preceding October 13, plus 4 per cent for each previous year to a maximum of 34 years.

• Permanent workers were offered four weeks pay for the last year and two weeks for each previous year also to a maximum of 34 years. • to qualify, seasonal workers must have worked at Whakatu last killing season and “would have obtained continued future seasonal employment at the Whakatu pant.” Permanent workers must have been working for H.B.F.M.C. on October 13.

For some workers who find work in another district within the next 12 months a household moving allowance to a maximum of $6OO would be paid.