NO CHANGE IN ATTITUDE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21580, 17 September 1935, Page 7

NO CHANGE IN ATTITUDE

EMPLOYERS REFUSE TO .NEGOTIATE FREEZING WORKERS* CLAIM No progress was made yesterday in the conciliation council, adjourned from September 5, on the claim by the Canterbury Freezing Works and Belated Trades' Industrial Union of Workers for an award for the casing workers employed in the industry. The employers' assessors maintained their original attitude, involving an absolute refusal to negotiate They argued, among other things, that the union did not represent the workers in the industry, and would not state what evidence to the contrary they would accept. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr S. Ritchie, presided. The employers' assessors were Messrs C. G. Wilkin, R. C. Hamilton, A. C. Wells, and D. P. Garrick. The workers' assessors were Messrs G. T. Thurston, H. Ashley, A. Sweeney, and A. Parker. Mr H. G. Kilpatrick, the union secretary, was also present. The firms involved were Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia), Ltd., the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company, the Independent Casing Company, the Nsw Zealand Refrigerating Company, Ltd., i and the North Canterbury Sheep Farmers' Co-operative Freezing and' Agency Company, Ltd. f Mr Thurston: The employers stated i at the. last council that they preferred I to treat with the whole industry rather I than with one department* Since we last met other workers have joined the union, and we are in a position tojday to treat along the lines suggested by the employers themselves. Mr Wilkin: We did not intimate last time that we were prepared to discuss the whole industry. We £id indicate that we'were not willing to treat with ithe casing department as a separate | entity. ' Mr Thurston claimed that he had placed a fair interpretation on Mr Wilkin's remarks, and added: There have been no negotiations since 1932. The question must be faced at some stage. We feel you are in duty bound to submit some counter-proposals to us. Number of Union Members

Mr Wilkin: Mr Commissioner, we are still of the opinion that the assessors on the other side of the table do not represent the majority of the workers in the industry. The freezing works will not be fully manned until later in the year. There is another aspect of the question—since 1932 a new personnel has manned the works. The companies stated that all other things being equal, those men would repeive preference in employment. We are convinced that the great body of men engaged since 1932 are not members of the union. Mr Kilpatrick: The bulk of the men in Canterbury, 80 per cent, or thereabouts, were members of the old union and are prepared to come back. Mr Thurston then produced a list of men who had applied for membership. Mr Wilkin: From here the list looks no longer than 200 names. Mr Kilpatrick: There are others n6t included.

Mr Wilkin: The personnel in Canterbury numbers thousands. Mr Thurston: We are saying that the workers in all departments are members of the union.

Mr Wilkin: I am looking to the future—to the influx when the works are fully manned later in the year. In reply to Mr Wilkins's enquiry if the applications for membership included men working on the chains, Mr Kilpatrick said that to a certain extent they did, adding: "This is an entirely new deal as far as we are concerned."

Mr Wilkin: The last sitting was adjourned for the employers to consider the matter further. We have done that and have nothing to add to what we have already said. Mr Kilpatrick: You are denying the workers the rights they have under the act. , Mr Wilkin: What we are saying is that you do not represent the workers in the industry. "Hypothetical Questions"

Mr Thurston: What would your attitude be if we gave you evidence that we do? Mr Wilkin: I shall wait and see that evidence. I am not here to answer hypothetical questions. Mr Kilpatrick: But what would your attitude be? You can't be entirely nebulous on the question. After a silence for half a minute Mr Kilpatrick asked: At what stage and under what conditions would you treat? Mr Wilkin: I am not going to answer hypothetical. questions, and I am not here under cross-examination. Mr Kilpatrick: You talk about evidence, but will not indicate what evidence you want. The other employers* assessors agreed with Mr Wilkin in his view that the union assessors were not representative of the workers in the industry. After the Conciliation Commissioner had outlined the position, Mr Thurston said: "You are saying that you will not recognise the union." Mr Garrick: No. We have our teams of men and they are satisfied with the conditions. Mr Thurston: Will the freezing companies .evej treat with the union, no matter what its membership is? Wc are compelled by law to come into conciliation. From our lists we can prove that we represent the majority of the workers. We are entitled to some recognition under the law. The union is quite open to membership. There is no fear that the men you have been employing in past years will be barred by this union from securing their usual employment. Some discussion followed on the position in the North Island, Mr Wilkin arguing that the cases were not parallel. Mr Kilpatrick again asked what evidence had to be produced to satisfy him, Mr Wilkin* replying: "I am not here to advise you." Mr Thurston: We have done everything we can. Deadlock 'Reached The employers' assessors then conferred in private with the Conciliation Commissioner. On returning, Mr Wilkin said that they had talked the matter over, but could not get any further forward. 'Mr Thurston: We do not profess that we represent all the employees, because we have not got in touch with them all, but those with whom the secretary has made contact have signified their willingness to join the union. I would like to get this from the employers—if we could come back at the end of October with a definite assurance that the majority of workers you have employed in the last two or three years are members of the union, what would your attitude be? Mr Wilkin: The position would not be any diflerent at the end of October. The staffs would "be even more skeleton than they are now. I don't see how vou will be able to get in touch with the men. Mr Thurston: But, assuming it can be done? Mr Wilkin: If you make representations they will be considered. Mr Thurston said it was apparent they could not get further forward at the moment He claimed that the union had had no recognition during the negotiations. When December came the union, he thought, would be able to say it represented the majority of workers. * Mr Wilkin: It is a case of "sufficient unto the day." The Conciliation Commissioner ex-' plained that the council would remain in existence until October 4, after which the proceedings would lapse through time. ' Mr Thurston: It is. very probable that another dispute will be filed.

An adjournment, sine die, was then taken. Mr Wilkin's motion of thanks to the Cpnciliation Commissioner for his patience and his efforts to bring about an agreement was seconded by Mr Thurston.