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Louisa Steyl / Things
The Labor Court ruled in 2018 that workers could claim back pay for the time it takes to put on work safety equipment as shown in this photo. [File photo]
Union members have voted to accept Alliance Group’s offer of a donning and doffing agreement; after more than a year of negotiations.
The National Secretary of the New Zealand Meat Workers Union, Daryl Carran, said a majority of workers voted in favor of the package that would cover nearly 4,000 workers at the group’s seven sites.
Carran declined to share the terms of the deal, or a payment date, due to a confidentiality agreement.
Alliance Group had set aside $ 19.9 million to cover late payments.
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ROBYN EDIE / Stuff
New Zealand Meat Workers Union National Secretary Daryl Carran (left) said members’ vote in favor of the settlement agreement was the smartest choice. (File photo)
The settlement relates to a December 2018 Labor Court ruling that classified putting on and taking off clothes, the process of putting on and taking off specialized clothing and equipment before and after shifts and breaks, as work.
This could take 15-20 minutes, and as a result of the ruling, meat and other food processing companies have had to pay workers for this time for the past six years, the period covered by the statute of limitations.
It is understood that most workers in these positions are owed at least $ 3,000.
Carran said understanding court precedent and how it applies to Alliance workers is a “huge” task.
Determining what each worker was owed and other details about the deal was also complex, requiring payroll schedules to be modified, among other things, he said.
“These are very difficult points to apply. It’s not just a walk in the park, ”Carran said.
Negotiations were further delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic that had halted meetings during closures, he said.
Carran said Alliance workers were satisfied with the final results, as evidenced by their majority vote in favor of accepting the group’s offer.
He said that voting in favor of the settlement agreement was the wisest choice.
