Mediation to resolve the dispute between Open Country Dairy and its workers has failed.
When asked how the mediation went, Open Country's chief executive officer Mark Fankhauser said, 'Unfortunately”.
Workers at the Waharoa site are now due to go on strike next Wednesday, but New Zealand Dairy Workers' Union national secretary James Ritchie says the union is still keen to have the matter resolved.

Open Country Dairy at Waharoa.

'We are open to settlement right up to the last minute. Money is not an issue. We have no wage claim here. This is about job protection, conditions of work, changing work hours and rosters. It is also about workers having permanent employment rather than seasonal employment and it is about the right to join a union.”
Mark says the company entered negotiations with a degree of hope that a solution would be found, but they are now focusing on ensuring they have sufficient resources to cope during the strike.
'One is always hopeful, but the reality is with something like this that it will be what it will be. With two million litres of milk to collect each day, it would be irresponsible of us not to plan for this. We are very grateful for the loyal staff who have been good enough to stick by us and the number of volunteers who have come forward to ensure we can keep operating.”
Mark declined to discuss the stumbling blocks in negotiations.
'We are in a good faith bargaining phase under the Employment Relations Act and I think we should respect that.”