AFFCO workers vote to strike

Affco Meatworkers Union members have voted to strike on Friday, says union organiser Eric Mischefski.

The strike follows today's lock out of 776 union members in five plants after negotiations for a collective agreement broke down.

"We have had a vote amongst all of our members in the Affco group, with an overwhelming majority giving authority to the union negotiating team to call industrial action as and when they deem it necessary," Mr Mischefski said.

The first strike action would occur this Friday at 5am for a period of 24 hours and starting Saturday morning the union had placed a ban on all training for one week "at this stage".

The Affco plant in Te Puke was one of three Affco plants that had not locked out union members. Mr Mischefski said Te Puke had recently hired 150 new workers who were being trained by union members.