An industrial dispute between New Zealand meat group Affco and its employees has deepened, with the company locking out almost 1,000 workers from its processing plants.

Last week, the firm locked out 750 workers across five plants – Moerewa, Horotiu, Whanganui, Wairoa and Feilding – ahead of industrial action at the facilities.

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Workers not locked out reportedly launched a one-day strike on Friday (2 March). The strike was organised by the New Zealand Meat Workers Union, which represents the workers.

According to local reports, the group has now moved to lock out another 200 employees at its Rangiuru facility.

The industrial action followed more than a year of negotiations over the terms and conditions contained within the collective bargaining agreement between union members and the company.

Affco and the union hit a deadlock in talks, with the union accusing the company of demanding “total employment flexibility”. The agreement has been referred to the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court.

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