increase font size
Current Fed dairy chair Chris Lewis and former chair Willy Leferink.
Dairy farmers are concerned about the Government’s fair pay working group recommendations, says Feds dairy chairman Chris Lewis.
Lewis told the Feds dairy council meeting in New Plymouth last week that the compulsory nature of the proposed fair pay agreements and the risk of industrial action and productivity loss are key concerns for the industry.
It would be compulsory for business to accept the new wage rate once it was negotiated for that position, Lewis told about 40 people at the two-day meeting.
“What if staff strike during calving; who would look after the cows?” he asked.
“Sounds outrageous? Staff would never strike during the peak part of the season.... That’s how unions hold power over the employers. Just ask our dairy companies how the unions have used this in the past.”
The Government’s fair pay working group, led by former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger, has made 46 recommendations to the Government which it says will help end the ‘race to the bottom’ in wages.
It has also reported on the design of a fair pay agreement system which it says would set minimum standards for industries or occupations.
The Minister of Workplace Relations, Iain Lees-Galloway, is now considering the group’s recommendations, which address the initiation of bargaining, coverage of the agreements, their scope and the bargaining process for negotiations.
One recommendation, on collective bargaining, suggests workers should be able to initiate a fair pay-agreement bargaining process if they can meet a minimum threshold of 1000 people, or 10% of workers in the nominated sector or occupation, whichever is lower.
Lewis says dairy farmers are all for fair pay.
“Also, we promote career progression, where you start at the bottom of the ladder, you increase your skills and knowledge, and work your way up through the industry, getting rewarded with more pay and a better job title along with responsibility,” he says.
“The good staff make it to sharemilker or farm manager roles and then have an eye on land ownership.”
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.
