NO WORK TO-DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 126, 30 May 1944, Page 6

NO WORK TO-DAY

WESTFIELD POSITION

EMPLOYEES TAKE HOLIDAY

There was no work at the Westfield freezing works to-day, all employees returning home during the morning and early afternoon. This course was taken by the workers following a meeting between union representatives and the management, which concluded shortly before one o'clock this afternoon. It is stated that the decision not to work to-day was not in the nature of a strike, and work would be resumed to-morrow morning.

All departments of the works are concerned, with a total staff of 1300 men and women. A number of buses brought the workers back to the city-

It is understood that at the meeting claims made by the employees for wage increases and other concessions were discussed. No settlement, however, has yet been reached, and further discussions will be held, the union assuring the management, in the meantime, that all workers will start at the usual time to-morrow.

Yesterday morning four men were suspended by the management for refusing to carry out certain work, this leading to the chamber hands ceasing work at about 11 a.m. They were idle for the rest of the day. Discussions on conditions in the chambers have been proceeding for the past few weeks between union representatives and the management. While suggestions by the men were still in process of discussion, work continued until yesterday when four employees were suspended for declining to do allocated jobs.

Essential loading work was carried on by staff hands of the company up to a late hour last night. Shacklers on the beef floor stopped work in the afternoon, contending that-they had received no information 'on the demand for a wage increase which they had made last week following an accident to a worker in the cattle knocking pit. This demand has also been under discussion by the management and the wage commissioner, Mr. C. L. Hunter.