Meatworkers on the job tomorrow

WORK stoppages at JBS Rockhampton won't go ahead on Friday after workers voted not to support the planned industrial action.

Workers voted to walk off the job for four hours last Friday causing JBS to close their operations for the day.

Union members had voted for a further four-hour stoppage this week but a vote taken by all JBS workers overrode the decision.

Australian Meat Industry Employees Union industrial officer, Lee Norris said further meetings with members to reassess the situation would depend on the company's position and on the weather, which impacted workloads.

Mr Norris said he wouldn't comment on claims that some workers were disgruntled with the way the union had handled the dispute but he absolutely rejected the company's position that it couldn't afford a 4% increase.

Nippon Meat Packers and Teys Brothers recently gave workers a 4% wage increase and Mr Norris said that workers at JBS shouldn't accept being treated as second class.

Both parties said they would continue to negotiate in good faith.