REFUSAL TO VOTE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 131, 15 March 1935, Page 6

REFUSAL TO VOTE

BALLOT IN INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE. MINISTER’S. ACTION OPPOSED. WESTFIELD FREEZING WORKS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 14. As a protest against the manner in which the dispute is alleged to have been handled officially, none of the slaughtermen at Wesfield freezing works took part in the secret ballot arranged to be conducted at the works to-day. Although two officials of the Labour Department were in attendance at a specially-arranged polling booth, not a single vote was recorded by the 187 men concerned in the dispute.

Steps to hold a secret ballot on the dispute between the members of the Auckland Abattoir Assistants and Freezing Works Employees’ Union, and the Westfield Freezing Company, were taken under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1913. The Act provides that a secret ballot shall he taken on a proposal to strike when no settlement has been reached in a dispute between employees and employers. Notice of intention to hold today’s ballot was given by the deputyregistrar under the Act on Tuesday. The actual issues of the dispute have not been disclosed, but the slaughtermen at Westfield! works ha.ve been dissatisfied with wages and conditions of employment since November.

On November 10 the men held a stop-work meeting oyer differences with the management of the company in regard to overtime. A settlement was reached on November 12, but it is stated that wages and conditions on the slaughtering floors have repeatedly been the subject of grievances by the men since that date. Representatives of the men and the management have had several conversations recently, but a deadlock ensued. An application to the Minister for Labour that he take action under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act was filed by the union. The Act provides that the Minister shall, on receipt of such notice, either refer the matter’ to the Conciliation Commissioner to inquire into and endeavour to effect a settlement of the dispute, with power to summon a conference of the parties to such dispute, or refer the matter for investigation to a Labour Dispute Committee. Such committee, stipulates the Act, shall consist of not less than three, nor more than seven members, as determined by the Minister. An equal number of members shall be appointed to represent workers and employers respectively. It is further provided that a secret ballot shall be taken of the workers concerned if a settlement of the dispute is not arrived at within 14 days from the date of notice of the dispute to the Minister. It is stated that the Minister’s decision to proceed with the ballot surprised the men. It is claimed that this step was premature, and that other alternative mandatory courses open to the Minister should have been followed before conducting a ballot. The men’s action in abstaining from voting is said to be a mark of their disapproval. The result of the men’s refusal to exercise their right to vote is that the application filed on their behalf automatically lapses.