DAIRY FACTORIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 6

DAIRY FACTORIES

NORTHLAND POSITION

AGREEMENT EXPIRING

O.C. WHANGAREI, this day. The gentlemen's agreement under which employees of Northland dairy factories are working 48 hours weekly on an overtime basis expires to-morrow. The basic wage for a 40-hour week is now £4 16/6, and according to the president of the recently - formed Northland subbranch of the New Zealand Dairy Factories and Related Trades' Union, Mr. F. M. Begley, the men are now seeking a basic wage of £5 10/ for a 40-hour week. Another claim is for increased remuneration for Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and statutory holidays, for which at present time and a half is paid, compared with double and even treble time in other industries. Mr. Begley said a meeting of the Northland sub-branch of the union, convened for Whangarei late on Saturday afternoon, could not constitutionally discuss the question of a strike Beyond saying that only ordinary branch business would be transacted, Mr. Begley would not comment on possible developments following the expiration of the gentlemen's agreement. The opinion among Kaitaia dairy factory employees generally is that, if satisfaction is not achievable, direct action will be taken. The Kaitaia men will abide by the majority decision of all Northland factory workers, it is stated. Speaking for themselves, they said that, while they did not wish for a strike, with, consequent difficulty for the industry, they are quite prepared to employ direct action if all other means fail. ~