THREAT TO STRIKE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11, 13 January 1945, Page 7

THREAT TO STRIKE

DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS

HIGHER WAGE DEMANDED

HAMILTON, Friday,

A threat to strike unless their demands for higher wages were met was made by a large section of a meeting of 100 dairy factory workers to-night. Mr. D. Guilford presided. Delegates came from Rotorua, the Bay of Plenty and all parts of the Waikato. Mr. W. N. Perry, one of the employers' assessors at the recent conciliation proceedings, urged the workers to give the agreement reached by the assessors of both sides a trial. Mr. L. Robertson, a workers' assessor, said a big gain had been made by securing the 40-hour week. The basic wage had been fixed at £4 16/6, plus cost-of-living bonuses, a total of £5 6/4. All work done in excess of 40 hours was paid for at overtime rates, the 40 hours having to be worked within the five days. Mr. Roberts said he expected legislation to be introduced shortly with the object of amending the stabilisation order so as to enable dairy factory workers to be given a higher minimum wage. One speaker said the agreement had been made and should be honoured, while others criticised the workers' assessors for consenting to the agreement. . ~ It was resolved by a large majority to take direct action by going on strike unless a minimum basic wage of £5 10/, the modification of the existing stabilisation order and the repeal of the second schedule relating to overtime rates were granted, the time limit to be 5 p.m. on Monday.