Union members at Whanganui's Affco Imlay plant shouldn't face pressure to go on individual contracts as each killing season begins, following Thursday's Court of Appeal decision.
The court heard an appeal by meat processing company Affco against an earlier Employment Court decision. The Employment Court said Affco had subjected meat workers to an unlawful lockout when it would only re-employ people willing to go on individual contracts.
The Appeal Court upheld that finding, and dismissed Affco's appeal. It said the company had tried to fragment the bargaining strength of workers, taking advantage of the inequality of its relationship with a "captive workforce" to whom it owed the opportunity of re-employment.
New Zealand Meat Workers Union national secretary Graham Cooke said the court decision was a major step forward in advancing workers' rights.
"I'm happy for our members that have stayed loyal."
He said more than 100 of Affco Imlay's approximately 400 workers still belonged to the union. He could not be exact about the number, because Affco no longer deducts union fees from wages and remits them to the union, despite having an obligation to do so.
The workers have to organise their own union payments instead.
They are still waiting for their collective contract to be renewed. It expired in December 2013, and they have been working under its terms and conditions since.
Affco has said derogatory comments made by union members on social media are a barrier to negotiation in good faith.
That case is to start next week, back in the Employment Court.
Mr Cooke said the union will now push Affco for earnings union staff lost through the lockout.
Affco chief financial officer Nigel Stevens said the company was disappointed its actions were ruled an unlawful lockout, but pleased with another decision by the court: that employers' obligations to seasonal worker were for a limited time rather than continuous.