For about three years, the New Zealand Meat Workers Union has pursued money it says is owed to members for rest breaks dating back to 2009 and yesterday afternoon Otago Southland Meat Workers' Union president Daryl Carran returned to Dunedin from Wellington, where he attended the Court of Appeal hearing, ``quietly confident'' the decision would be upheld.
He said he expected a decision in a matter of weeks.
``If it is successful, the union will be vigorously making sure that the money is paid ... promptly.''
On October 6 last year, Judge Bruce Corkill's Employment Court decision upheld a May Employment Relations Authority decision in favour of the union, which argued members were owed pay for rest breaks and overtime.
Last December, NZ Binxi Oamaru bought the remaining shareholding of the meat works from Lean Meats Ltd. The works now operates as Oamaru Meats Ltd.
Oamaru Meats director Richard Thorp said yesterday he was not aware of the appeal hearing and did not have anything to say on the matter.
