# Talleyban

Written By: - Date published: 5:50 pm, August 4th, 2015 - 47 comments
Categories: boycott, capitalism, class war, employment, same old national, Unions, workers' rights - Tags: , , ,

The Talleyban, eh? No, I’m not off to Afghanistan, but I have been thinking about another brutal organisation firmly opposed to the kiwi way of life. I’m boycotting Talley’s products until they negotiate a collective employment agreement with their AFFCO meat plant workers. If they’re going to behave like thugs, then they’re not getting any of my money. Simple.

These corporate shits put their employees through a lengthy lockout in 2012. Now they want to finish the job off using the new tools National have given them. The days when the law sought to have a level playing field and a bargaining environment based on good faith are gone.

Predictably, Talleys are the first company to use the Government’s new anti-union law change to destroy the existing CEA. After 18 months of what might well be deliberate non-negotiation they have gone to court to try and have the talks ended without an agreement being reached. They’ve also effectively forced workers into signing inferior individual contracts if they want work. Arise, Sir Peter Talley, knighted for services to class war!

Bravely, the unionised workforce have voted to strike to save their collective. Good on them!

Meatworkers Union national secretary Graham Cooke notes that Affco workers who predicted the company would be the first to use and abuse the new employment laws have proven to be correct.

Cooke says that during the current bargaining round the company added additional demands to reduce job security, threatened the union and others with legal action, and bullied staff at work. At mediation, Affco said it wanted to get rid of seniority, which gives long-time staffers priority for work when each season starts.

“Talley’s is an outlier in the meat industry in the way it deals with employment relations and health and safety.” Cooke says.

“It seems they were just waiting for the law to change so they could walk away. If they can’t be trusted to treat their workers fairly and safely at work, how can the public trust their brand?”.

A sign of how low they are prepared to go is a bullying lawyers letter sent to Helen Kelly at the CTU. It’s a sad, pathetic piece of work.

 

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I reckon the appropriate response to that letter is the reply in Arkell v Pressdram.  Helen Kelly’s response was to laugh it off and start her own personal consumer boycott. That’s an excellent idea. We can all do that. And it works. Remember when Progressive Enterprises locked out their distribution centre workers? The loss of market share drove that company back to the bargaining table and a fair deal was done.

So, I’m standing with Helen, I’m standing with the Meatworkers Union and I’m standing with the AFFCO workers and their families.

What about you?

 

https://www.facebook.com/jobsthatcount

#talleyban

 

47 comments on “# Talleyban ”

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  1. Detrie 1
    4 August 2015 at 6:31 pm

    Evil bean counters and managers within these bad companies only see the money, not people. The idea of boycotting particular products or services is a good one. Spreading the word quickly is the key. With everyone carrying cheap smartphones these days, why isn’t there “an app for that”? Something I can check to see the bad producers before entering the supermarket….. A local NZ version of http://www.buycott.com

  2. Bill 2
    4 August 2015 at 6:42 pm

    How do these corporate legal fucks get jobs!? I guess they ain’t paid by performance.

    From a quick read of that letter and as a mere layperson…

    …if neither Helen Kelly nor the CTU are registered unions (true)…and if they are not Affco employees either (they aren’t)…. then how can they be in breach of any ‘good faith provisions’ of the ERA, when the ERA covers relationships between employers and employees and their authorised representatives? (they can’t)

    And yet they send the letter anyway…

    • Detrie 2.1
      4 August 2015 at 7:06 pm

      It’s all about sounding tough and the assuming the reader [Helen] not knowing the law of the land… The law firm is the big winner here, charging out thousands for this effort…. Seems the nastier corporates (Talleys, McDonalds, Sky etc) always have ample money to throw at faceless lawyers, never its own workers who are there to be exploited.

      The other irony is that these same companies send their middle managers through NZIM (or similar) courses to learn how to manage and have some respect amd understanding of staff.

      • Charles 2.1.1
        4 August 2015 at 7:22 pm

        In that case, it’d be best to reply to the letter, so the lawyers further charge Talley’s for their time, and keep them talking for as long as possible to incur maximum legitimate financial damage. Even better than not buying $5 of spinach from the supermarket, which is what I’ve been doing for years since I found out about these clowns.

    • Acting Up 2.2
      4 August 2015 at 7:09 pm

      Absolutely correct, Bill. This letter shoots itself in the foot. Any decent employment lawyer would spot that contradiction, and not send the letter. Or maybe the big dollars on offer from the Talley overlords removed any last traces of professionalism for the lawyer concerned.

    • Anno1701 2.3
      5 August 2015 at 8:50 am

      because bullys like to shout a lot…

  3. Atiawa 3
    4 August 2015 at 7:14 pm

    I can recall this company buying into AFFCO. If my recollection is correct they paid $60 million for the company from cash-flow, that is no need to borrow, they had the cash. I’m with Helen. Fuck ’em, let’s boycott their products and tell your friends and family to do the same.

  4. Ffloyd 4
    4 August 2015 at 7:30 pm

    Is there a list of their products? I don’t think I have ever bought anything of theirs but would like to make sure I never do.

    • GregJ 4.1
      4 August 2015 at 8:21 pm

      Go to their website: http://www.talleys.co.nz/

      Under each Division (Seafood; Vegetables; Meat; & Dairy) there is a list of products. Meat Division redirects you to the AFFCO website.

      • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.1
        4 August 2015 at 9:07 pm

        “Nothing is wasted. AFFCO’s Allied Products division produces premium hides and pelts, casings, tallow, slipe wool, protein meals of the highest quality, and pharmaceutical blood serums.”

        from GregJ’s link.

        Now. I was chatting to a freezing worker the other day who told me that the profits from selling calf blood serum pays the wages of the entire plant for that day.

        Whew…there’s gold in them there spills…..

    • Skinny 4.2
      4 August 2015 at 8:45 pm

      I am still angry at the Talley scum since the beastly lock out. I ‘never knowingly’ buy their food. The product boycott list never came out last scrap. Surely someone has a list of all the home brands they provide in supermarkets?

      The Tallyban is a fight that all unionists should fight boots and all. We must send a clear message that any employer trying to force workers out of a collective agreement
      will suffer a swift retaliation straight in their hip pocket.

      Organisering a rowdy wildcat Tallyban picket outside a local Pak n Slave that we have been inching to thump is not a problem.

      Top post TPR!
      Any contacts have a list outside of the obvious Talley label?

  5. Macro 5
    4 August 2015 at 9:04 pm

    I haven’t bought Talley’s “produce” for at least 4 years now (after their other lockout). They are a despicable bunch of crap employers and while I sympathise with those who for survival reasons are forced to slave for them I will never ever grace my shopping basket with their goods.

  6. Clemgeopin 6
    4 August 2015 at 9:10 pm

    Both Tally’s and this anti worker National government should be completely ashamed of themselves. What a disgrace!

    I am keen to support the bullied powerless workers and also keen to boycott all of Tally’s products until the dispute is settled fairly and amicably.

    It would be great if the readers here started to LIST the names of the individual Tally’s products here in order to give wider publicity to the boycott and to help us all boycott those particular products.

    Cheers and thanks in advance.

    • Jenny Kirk 6.1
      4 August 2015 at 10:17 pm

      Talleys have a huge range of frozen foods – peas, beans, etc – as well as fried potato chips, hash-browns, and so on. i think you’d need to check the package out of the supermarket fridge bin to make sure it wasn’t a Talleys one. Then there is all their fish products as well – shellfish too.

      I did come across a bit of a list on their website but they do have an enormous range of products – and they also sell wholesale, not just to retail outlets. here’s the link:

      http://www.talleys.co.nz/about-us/our-company/

  7. adam 7
    4 August 2015 at 9:32 pm

    I do wonder how the supermarkets would take it if they were targeted for selling talleys products?

    Many ways to bring it up with the supermarkets from a letter to a email. From a trolley full of frozen goods left at check out?

    Maybe protest out side?

    Or go to Foodstuffs directly?

    And that aussie mob?

    So many options in the 21st century we could try, not saying we should encourage that, just saying people could…

  8. Reddelusion 8
    4 August 2015 at 9:39 pm

    [deleted – defamatory]. I for one won’t take up your offer of a silly boycott Unions are not to be trusted based on personal experience, they do workers more harm thsn good with their blinkered ideology. Ready for abuse but before you start I come from working class labour family, but grew up

    [lprent: You actually have a more basic problem than abuse. Annoyed moderators.

    Your first statement was a defamatory assertion of fact with no backing links or argument. I suspect it was actually an opinion based on the rest of what you said. However you clearly didn’t think, wrote it as a an assertion, and thereby put this site at risk. We don’t take kindly to that, and you are liable to do it on people and organisations who are less forgiving than unions. So an educational experience is in order.

    Banned for 2 weeks. Please read your language in future and separate your opinions from fact, and for “facts” provide links. You will find this will help you avoid moderator attentions. ]

    • te reo putake 8.1
      4 August 2015 at 9:43 pm

      Do tell how the MWU destroyed any jobs. It should be fascinating reading.

    • Skinny 8.2
      4 August 2015 at 10:12 pm

      You forgot to mention your a huge fan of zero hours contracts. Large donators to National gets law changes like this and watered down health & safety laws. It’s called corruption. I would prefer to shut Talley’s down completely, ldeally every single operation. Fuck the jobs they pay bottom rates in most of their operation’s anyway.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2.1
        5 August 2015 at 7:39 am

        Yep. there are plenty of good employers who don’t need Talley trash dragging them down.

    • Clemgeopin 8.3
      4 August 2015 at 10:13 pm

      Links for your outrageous, defaming and scandalous assertions would be absolutely necessary here.

      Otherwise, apologise and retract.

      [lprent: Only the first statement was defamatory. The rest were clearly opinions. But thanks for the pointer. ]

    • b waghorn 8.4
      5 August 2015 at 7:29 am

      “”Ready for abuse but before you start I come from working class labour family, but grew up””
      TRANSLATION ; GOT A FREE EDUCATION MADE SOME MONEY AND PROMPTLY FORGOT WHERE I CAME FROM.

      • half crown 8.4.1
        5 August 2015 at 8:41 am

        “TRANSLATION ; GOT A FREE EDUCATION MADE SOME MONEY AND PROMPTLY FORGOT WHERE I CAME FROM.”

        Nice one, As I have said before, reminds me of my nephew in the UK very successful and an out and out Randian right winger.

        Forgets if it was not for the socialistic systems when he was younger with good education and free university which my brother could never afford, he could have been just another peasant to be exploited.

        But I must not say these things as it shows envy sarc/

    • Anno1701 8.5
      5 August 2015 at 8:56 am

      “I come from working class labour family, but sold out”

      FIFY

    • infused 8.6
      5 August 2015 at 11:22 am

      Pretty much. Destroyed the factory I worked at some time ago.

  9. Penny 9
    4 August 2015 at 9:41 pm

    I live in a small town that has an AFFCO works on the outskirts of it. And when the meat workers go on strike it hits badly & people complain. But, to me they are don’t see the bigger picture. They dont see people standing together & standing up for what they believe in. Just last month the local AFFCO meat works had a injured a worker very very badly. He had a hook that the carauses (sp) are put on go though his head & just miss his eye! The guy was in hospital for 2 days & then back at work on the 4th day!!! When I red that I was thinking ‘why go back to work so soon?’ Now I understand why. He was most likely told “get back to work or lose your job” which is not on to me. I agree on not buying Talleys products. Talleys pack store brand for Pak’nSave, McCain, Watties & I cant remember what other brand in way of frozen foods. I am all for voting with my dollar.

  10. venezia 10
    4 August 2015 at 10:54 pm

    I’m boycotting. Here is the start of a list:
    Any brand that states “Talleys”.
    Dairy products: Creme de la Creme and Guilt Free ice cream.
    Logan Farm frozen veges/fruits.

    Please add to it.
    By the way Penny I just checked my frozen peas and beans. They say Heinz Watties Australia.

    • Clemgeopin 10.1
      5 August 2015 at 11:35 am

      Thanks venezia.

      I have never used Creme de la Creme and Guilt Free ice cream anyway.

      I will make sure not to buy ‘Logan Farm frozen veges/fruits’ from now on though.

      Cheers.

  11. millsy 11
    4 August 2015 at 10:58 pm

    I think that AFFCO (or thier Ustache puppetmasters) would have no objection if unions were banned (like they will be if Key gets a third term)

  12. BR 12
    4 August 2015 at 11:15 pm

    I’m like others here , as a family we’ve boycotted talleys since their lockout a few years back .
    We live in a rural area close to Princess Talley’s hometown and man do we ever get sick of the locals fawning over him ” He gives A LOT to charity you know ”

    Hope rising sea levels take his mansion out .

  13. Aspasia 13
    5 August 2015 at 12:45 am

    This law firm seems to be a Nelson outfit with Malone as its principal. What can Nelson Standardistas tell us about them?

  14. Tiger Mountain 14
    5 August 2015 at 7:14 am

    yes, support the TalleyBan!
    –a nasty union busting company, consumers have considerable power here if we use it

    buy nothing from Talleys until they settle the collective with the Meatworkers Union, and if that does not happen, make it a lifetime ban, I did after their 2009 Open Country Cheese lockout in Waikato, Talleys actually imported “replacement workers” (scabs) from as far away as Invercargill

    would be good to have info stands and leafleting at supermarkets because they will certainly not like it and will eventually pressure Talleys to ‘sort it out’ as the Iwi leaders assisted in the previous lockout

    just as some 21st century employers are seeing the benefit of “the Living Wage” campaign the knuckle draggers at Talleys want to reframe work as sadistic servitude

  15. Darien Fenton 15
    5 August 2015 at 7:23 am

    Thanks all : would be good if you could tweet : and post on jobsthatcount Facebook page. Talleys monitor that so its a good way of letting them know what you think. They also monitor everything we say and threaten the union often. They even went as far as doing official information act requests on the MWU responses to their immigration applications. Our comments on those have now become part of their claim of breach of good faith and justification to end bargaining. Workers are now being threatened with being put on night shift after the strike on a lower paying job. Just one of many Talleys tricks. And if you’re in Wellington, come to the Talley Rally at 9am outside parliament on Tuesday 11th August. These are brave, courageous workers from heartland NZ. They will love your support. Darien, MWU

    • Skinny 15.1
      5 August 2015 at 8:23 am

      Hi Darien pretty brave of the Union members to take strike action, given Talley’s terrible track record of previous lock outs and victimising members.

      Fully prepared to picket outside supermarkets ‘Pack’n Slave’ in a TalleyBan boycott of their products. Aside from bullet point’s of the dispute we would need a list of all their food products to maximise the effect. If there is a go between that could kindly provide the details that would be great.

    • Rosie 15.2
      5 August 2015 at 2:27 pm

      Thanks Darien. Hope to be able to make it to the rally next Tuesday. Hope it’s a good turnout 🙂

  16. Save NZ 16
    5 August 2015 at 8:36 am

    Consumer Boycotts work. The only thing these companies value is money, which they can’t get if people don’t buy their products.

    Yep keen for a list of foods to boycott. Make it easy for people so they can easily adjust their shopping.

  17. JanMeyer 17
    5 August 2015 at 10:55 am

    Lest we forget, Labour solicits funds from Sir Peter Talley …

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11463054

  18. Jenny Kirk 18
    5 August 2015 at 1:11 pm

    I don’t think you can call Talley just donating to Damien O’Connor – known conservative among Labour MPs – as Labour soliciting funds from Sir P T. that would have been a more personal donation from Sir P T to O’Connor.

    read the Herald story right through to the end please :

    Last election, Talley donated to nine candidates. The only Labour MP was West Coast Tasman MP Damien O’Connor.

    • JanMeyer 18.1
      5 August 2015 at 8:44 pm

      This is the bit I was referring to:

      “Labour has set about trying to rectify its deficit. It has set up a database, by Jove. It has proposed increasing “business etc” contacts (but only small businesses, not those big ones). It might even use professional fundraisers. As part of this, it will hold five events a year at which MPs will be expected to schmooze donors. The first of these has already happened. Sir Peter Talley – the chief bogeyman of the Labour unionist ranks – was among those present. He emerged unscathed.”

  19. Rosie 19
    5 August 2015 at 2:21 pm

    I have boycotted Talleys since the late 2000’s. Their worker’s right abuses are all over the show – union busting, H&S disasters and now the first company to use the new employer “spray and walk away” from bargaining clause, not to mention the boss that heads it all, who buys his way into such personally beneficial legislative changes.

    With all these abuses I had forgotten why I boycotted them in the first place. Tiger Mountain reminds us – it was the Open Country dairy workers lock out and use of replacement labour.

    If only we had a socially minded journalist with their own show who could get this latest issue into the mainstream…….oh wait, they sacked him.

    One of John Campbell’s last big stories was about the preventable and horrific injuries of workers at AFFCO plants. If he were still on our screens today real head way could have been made with bringing this latest Talleys issue to everyone’s attention which could have contributed to a very successful boycott.

    In the mean time, it’s up to us to spread the word. Ideally it would be good to see a group like Action Station do a campaign around Talleys. In this instance, people could sign up to a pledge to boycott their products until they act in good faith and return to the bargaining table and settle these negotiations that have been going for over and year and a half.

  20. Rosemary McDonald 20
    5 August 2015 at 2:31 pm

    Big mistake String Bean King, taking this line….

    “The Talley’s Group, run by the recently knighted Sir Peter Talley, has campaigned hard against health and safety reforms introduced in the wake of the Pike River Mine disaster.
    His submission against the Bill opposes workers electing health and safety representatives, saying it’s “unreasonable” and that “unscrupulous unions” could use them to “intentionally damage or destroy a business”.

    Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/talleys-pays-worker-6000-over-unsafe-workplace-2015061517#ixzz3hu619QcO

    Methinks the gathering in Wellington next week might attract quite a few participants.

    Stupid, really.