One of New Zealand's largest wholesale food delivery companies has been found to have breached New Zealand employment laws.
The Employment Relations Authority has released a determination that found Bidfood New Zealand, the local food arm of multinational heavyweight Bidvest, failed to inform its employees that First Union had begun bargaining.
New Zealand law requires companies to negotiate with a union once it has initiated bargaining, but the determination says Bidfood New Zealand also refused to start bargaining with the union when it first contacted the company.
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The determination was sought by First Union after Bidfood New Zealand - which delivers to restaurants and cafes across the country - ignored a letter from the union saying it wanted to negotiate a collected agreement.
In its defence, the company said the notice was not valid because it was sent to the manager of the Auckland branch instead of the national office, which it claims resulted in a misunderstanding over who it involved.
But authority member Eleanor Robinson says the union was within its grounds to enter bargaining. She ordered the company to inform the relevant employees they were entering into bargaining and to meet with the union to consider and respond to proposals.
First Union Transport Logistics and Manufacturing Secretary Jared Abbott said the company had been difficult to deal with and the union had received complaints about being pressured by management not to join a union.
"When international companies come to New Zealand, they need to realise that they have to comply with New Zealand's laws," he said.
"I am surprised they even tried to defend this case, but hopefully it will make the company question their behaviour going forward."
Newshub.
