Iwi play broker role in employment relations dispute

The news that AFFCO and meat workers are close to resolving their differences with a new collective agreement started creeping out today.  It seems that an iwi leadership group has been a catalyst in the process. Tuku Morgan and Ken Mair among others are mentioned as playing a part between the Talleys and the Meat Workers Union.

I've not followed this dispute in detail. I'm also very green on the workings of Maoridom. But I am interested to know if this iwi group by lending their support to an employment relations issue, as a broker between deadlocked parties, is unique and something rather special.

Andrew Talley is reported on the Stuff website as saying this type of relationship is new, and it seems to have been successful.

"We have both sought to learn from this dispute and ensure that moving forward we build in the opportunity for a new type of relationship between the company, the union and its members.  We also both value the ongoing commitment from Iwi to support this relationship"  Andrew Talley said on behalf of Affco.

It is interesting for iwi to be in the role of referee in an employment relations dispute where they could have watched from the sidelines. However, the members of this iwi group have certainly been involved in a fair number of deadlocks over the years and this result, whether it comes off or not, may be seen as turning those learnings into a new role, one of real leadership for the country as a whole.

Read the joint statement made today after 78 days of the lockout here:
http://www.mwu.org.nz/2012/05/21/significant-progress-in-affco-dispute/