Published: 14/05/2019

The New Zealand Meat Workers Union (NZMWU) has won an important legal victory concerning wage theft.

The Court of Appeal upheld an Employment Court decision that the time required to put on and remove specialized clothing and equipment at the beginning and end of each shift and for rest breaks is paid time.

The decision relates to three collective bargaining agreements but has implications for the entire NZ meat sector. The NZMWU is in discussions with the Meat Industry Association about the wider application of the Court decision and hopes agreement can be reached without recourse to further legal proceedings.

The union can seek back pay for unpaid work over the past 6 years.