Strike action at Affco Rangiuru scheduled to take place today and tomorrow has been called off by the New Zealand Meat Workers Union.

Notice to cancel the strike was posted following a meeting between union officials, Affco owners and iwi leaders Ken Mair and Tuku Morgan on Sunday.

Photo: File.

Union members at the eight North Island Affco sites will meet in the coming days to consider further developments.

The Union called the strike last week after accusing Affco of walking away from mediation.

But Affco general manager Rowan Ogg insists that less than quarter of the Affco workforce are Union members.

'We understand that only a few at each site voted to strike,” Rowan told SunLive.

'Most just want to get on and work, and over 90 per cent of our workforce will be doing just that.”

'Our focus throughout the last 18 months of bargaining has always been an agreement which reflects the current operating environment in the industry and secures jobs.

'In the face of declining stock numbers and growing overcapacity in the industry, our aim has been on job preservation and job sustainability.

'This is an extremely competitive industry and the best thing we can do for all of our staff is to have workplace agreements that provide more opportunity for better earnings and longer seasons.”

Some of the clauses the Unions insist on retaining date back over half a century or longer, says Rowan.

He also added that further allegations made against Affco by the Union have been investigated by third parties and found to be baseless.