Meatworkers wait another week

It could be another week before Alliance company meatworkers will know whether the company's 2.5 per cent pay offer is accepted.

The 4000 members of the Meat Workers Union at the company's eight sites throughout the country have been asked to vote on whether to accept the offer.

Canterbury branch president of the Meat Workers Union Bill Watt said from Christchurch yesterday the three sheds in his area, Nelson, Sockburn at Christchurch and Smithfield at Timaru had now completed the vote.

But he said it would not be known if the deal was accepted until the sheds in Southern area had completed their vote which was expected by the end of next week.

Mr Watt said that ratification or rejection of the offer involved all sheds as a collective vote.

Smithfield has voted against the offer and is understood to be seeking an increase of about 3 per cent, similar to that offered by the opposition company Silver Ferns Farms last year.

- © Fairfax NZ News