Supreme Court dismisses Affco's unlawful lockout appeal, says workers 'were like employees'

Supreme Court dismisses Affco's unlawful lockout appeal, says workers 'were like employees'
Jonathan Underhill
By Jonathan Underhill Sept. 7 (BusinessDesk) - The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Affco against a lower court's finding that the meat processor unlawfully locked out meat workers when collective bargaining was taking place. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeal's view that the relationship between Affco and its seasonal workers "was sufficiently close to bring the latter within the scope of the word 'employees' in s.82(1)(b)" of the Employment Relations Act. In reaching their decision, Justices ...