Affco employees plead for council lock out support

Locked-out Affco meat workers have asked Wairoa district councillors for support.

They left a council meeting on Tuesday with an invitation for a representative to liaise with council chief executive Peter Freeman about practical measures.

Possibilities mentioned included the establishment of a resource centre and the waiving of penalties on late payment of rates and dog registration fees for those who were finding it tough.

District councillor Benita Cairns said the meat workers lived in Wairoa, shopped with local businesses and had children going to local schools.

"What they want to know is that this community supports them through this hard time," she said.

Affco locked out 110 Wairoa workers two weeks ago and since then union members have held four strike days and two protest marches. In all, about 1000 meat workers are locked out of Affco plants in the North Island.

Worker spokesman Tommy Heta told councillors the main concern was for families.

A strike fund was being used but it would not last forever.

Acting Mayor Denise Eaglesome said it was a community issue that affected the whole of Wairoa.

"We all should be doing our best to resolve this issue."

Mr Freeman said that during a previous industrial dispute, late-payment penalties for rates and dog fees were waived if people let the council know they were in difficulty. That sort of help, as well as the establishment of a resource centre, were options should the dispute continue.APNZ