DISSATISFACTION WITH AWARD

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 14 January 1937, Page 10

DISSATISFACTION WITH AWARD

DEMANDS OF WORKERS UNSUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE WITH EMPLOYERS (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, January 13. The amendment or abrogation of the recent award for the freezing works industry, so that the workers might enjoy the benefits of the legislation for the 40-hour week stad increased rates of pay was stated to-day to be the basic demand of the men involved in the dispute at the Westfield, Southdown, and King’s Wharf works. Since the award was made by the Arbitration Court about eight weeks ago, there had been widespread^discontent among slaughtermen and allied workers at the freezing works. On December 21 the men at the Westfield and Southdown works held stop-work meetings and decided to "go slow as a protest against the award. This was put into effect, but normal conditions were restored two days later on the employers agreeing to confer with the men’s representatives after the New Year holidays. In a statement to-night, the secretary of the Auckland Freezing Workers’'Union (Mr W. E. Sill) said that the promised conference had been held in Wellington last week, and it had proved unsuccessful. It was because of the employers refusing to concede any points, said Mr Sill, tnat the situation developed on unprecedented lines to-day. ~ , x “On Monday the men decided to revert to the ‘go-slow’ policy, and the respective works’ managements immediately gave notice that unless the normal speed of working was resumed on Tuesday morning all me men concerned in the ‘go-slow operations would be summarily dismissed, said Mr Sill. . , . Instead of starting work to-day at the usual hour, the men from the three works assembled at the entrance lane to the Southdown works, A loud-speaking outfit was obtained and used to carry the speakers’ voices over the gathering of fully 800 men. Discussions extended over three hours, and ultimately the men decided to return to work and carry out their policy of restricted output. It was also resolved that in the event of the employers carrying out their declared intention to dismiss any workers the men concerned would refuse to leave the premises and “stay in,” pending a settlement of their grievances. The Southdown workers resumed work at 1 p.m., but when the management discovered that the “go-slow” policy was being carried out they ordered the cessation of operations and dismissed all slaughtermen and allied workers. During the afternoon the men were paid their outstanding wages. At Westfield the management refused to permit the workers to resume work, and all hands in the slaughtering and allied departments were paid off. The men remained at the works in the afternoon, pending the decision of a meeting of delegates which later announced that the “stayin” policy would be carried out. “NOT ON STRIKE” MEN RESOLVED TO HOLD OUT FOR DEMANDS (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)' AUCKLAND, January 13. “We are staying here until we receive improved conditions,” said several of the workers at the Westfield and Southdown works when discussing the action to be taken after the employers had paid off all hands. The men emphasised the point that they were not on strike. “We have been paid off- by the employers but we are going to. remain here until either they or the' Government intervene and promise a review of the award,” said one man, who had his pockets filled with foodstuffs and carried a rug and other comforts. The pivotal men at the works, who are engaged in maintaining essential services, are not involved in the dispute. The engineers and fitters and the employees in attendance on refrigerating and other plant are remaining on duty. Late to-day the cleaning up and loading at the works were completed by staff employees. At Westfield, there was no interruption with work in the preserving department, which is mainly staffed by female labour.