A group of meatworkers has won a long-running dispute with AFFCO.
Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
The Employment Court is expected to release a full ruling on Wednesday saying the meat company locked out workers unlawfully and did not act in good faith during collective bargaining.
The workers have been in a lengthy battle over individual contracts since a collective agreement with the company expired almost two years ago.
They went to the Employment Court in Auckland last month.
The court told parties connected with the case this afternoon what tomorrow's decision would find.
Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff told Checkpoint the workers had been through tough times.
"All in all, we're delighted for those workers. They've been doing it really tough," he said.
"Talley's AFFCO hasn't been treating them fairly and it's good to see the court ruling in their favour."
The company needed to learn from its mistakes, he said.
A spokesperson for AFFCO said the company would be in a position to comment on the decision once it had received and considered the full ruling.
Wairoa district mayor Craig Little said the ruling would be a good outcome for the workers as many families had been suffering and the dispute had caused unwanted tension in the area.
