Fortex condemns competitors

Press, 19 February 1988, Page 18

Fortex condemns competitors

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

industrial reporter

The Fortex Group, in a confidential newsletter to shareholders, has hit out at competing meat companies which it says tried to torpedo the company’s attempts at agreement with the Meat Workers’ Union.

The Fortex Group and the union finally reached agreement on the introduction of a second slaughter shift at its Seafield plant near Ashburton in December after months of negotiations. Fortex’s managing director, Mr Graeme Thompson, in the newsletter, said it was clear much of the adverse publicity had been inspired by the personnel of some meat companies trying to discredit Fortex.

He also said the union had won “no concessions” in wages during negotia-

tions and Fortex’s “effective” maximum daily wage remained unchanged at $l4O per day. He said the agreement made public was one of the first second-tier deals, of which there were “literally hundreds.” He said the company, to reach agreement, “had of necessity to make some concessions.”

But, he said, no extra week’s holiday was given in 1988, meal breaks were always paid when shifts were worked, and the guaranteed wages level equated at 2.5 days (a week) at full production.

The concession made for the higher productivity was shorter working hours. "Yet even these are above the national average ordinary hours worked.” He said Fortex had achieved in nine months what the rest of the indus-

try had not been able to do in over 100 years. “Suggestions ... by some industry competitors that no concessions should have been made to secure the agreement, are absurd,” the newsletter said.

The newsletter also said that the union’s negotiating position was “greatly strengthened” by Waitaki International, Ltd’s, decision to cancel longstanding killing space arrangements, and the Labour Court’s decision in favour of the Meat Workers’ Union. The court decision held that the shift work could not start without agreement from the union. . The newsletter said the shift work structure agreed to was not suitable for other traditional works round the country. “In fact it (the agreement) will force a quicker rationalisation of ... the industry.”