Qld: New hearing delays Lakes Creek reopening

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Qld: New hearing delays Lakes Creek reopening

BRISBANE, April 24 AAP - Plans to reopen the Lakes Creek Meatworks in Rockhampton havebeen delayed.

Consolidated Meatworks Group (CMG) joint executive John Hughes announced today thatplans to reopen the plant next Monday had to be deferred as it faced the Industrial RelationsCommission again.

The Lakes Creek Meatworks, owned by CMG, had failed to reopen after its Christmas shutdown,leaving 1,350 people unemployed.

Mr Hughes said the reopening had been seriously disrupted by the Australasian MeatIndustry Employees Union's (AMIEU) application to the Industrial Relation Commission,scheduled for next Monday.

AMIEU was seeking to prevent CMG offering its proposed working arrangements, including10-hour days, to employees without undertaking a ballot process which included all pastemployees, Mr Hughes said in a statement.

Mr Hughes said he believed the AMIEU was working against the interests of the vastmajority of meatworkers.

"The union application directly challenges the employment proposals of the companywhich were to be implemented next week as part of the opening," Mr Hughes said.

Mr Hughes said he was not prepared to put those proposals into place until the IndustrialRelations Commission hearing was over.

"It would be irresponsible and confusing to everyone concerned, particularly the 500plus workers who have agreed to the company proposals, to commence work under the cloudof a challenge by the union," Mr Hughes said.

AAP ved/sc/ldj

KEYWORD: MEATWORKS