Mataura meat workers have voted by a slim majority to accept new conditions that will cut pay and alter conditions, but they are discussing details of the plans with the plant's owners.
The move paves the way for the Alliance Group to extend beef processing capacity at the Eastern Southland plant and effectively secures its immediate future, which the company said was at risk unless costs could be cut.
Alliance will now spend $13.1 million to increase the number of cattle processed each shift from 330 to 560, and another $14 million in other capital works to make the plant more efficient.
It is proposing new employment contracts for staff, which would cut some wages by $400 a week and others by 10% to 15%.
New Zealand Meat Workers Union president Daryl Carran said the 800-strong workforce accepted the beef plant had to be built, but members had issues they were discussing further with the plant's owners.
One of those issues was that the new contracts do not begin until the new beef processing facility is completed, expected to be September or October.
