MILL WORKERS DISMISSED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22339, 1 March 1938, Page 8

MILL WORKERS DISMISSED

WOOLLEN INDUSTRY’S PROBLEM KAIAPOI URGES HIGHER TARIFF FULL STATEMENT OF UNION’S VIEWS

Higher tariffs to protect the New Zealand woollen industry and other secondary industries against competition and to give more employment are being suggested tcj the Government by the mill workers and the businessmen of Kaiapoi, as a result of recent dismissals from the woollen mills. While the mill workers’ union is supporting the requests of the Dominion manufacturers and the Kaiapoi retailers for increased protection, a statement was made las night to “The Press” by its president (Mr W. B. McPartlin) alleging discontent among the unionists, and stating that the company was not dealing with the workers; “with the consideration we deserve. At a meeting of business interests yesterday, when the Mayor of Kaia poi (the Rev. W. H. A. Vickery) presided, the following resolution .was adopted:— meeting of Kaiapoi business people urges the Government to give tur ther assistance, to New Zealand manufacturing industry by ing tariff protection, to enable local industries to meet competition and employ more workers. An arrangement was made at the meeting that the Mayor, who left last night on holiday for Wellington, should present the resolution to the for Industries and Commerce (the Hon D. G. Sullivan). Mr E. C. Harper, the secretary of the union, also travelled by the steamer express. “The executive is working at top speed in order to find a solution of its problems, and the secretary will he associated with the Mayor, Mr T. Young (secretary m the New Zealand Mill Workers Federation) and Mr W. Cornwell, of the Federation of Labour, when the Minister for Labour and the Minister for Industries and Commerce are asked to investigate the conditions existing in the mill,” Mr McPartlin stated. Charges by Union The following statement on the situation was made by the president, in company with Mr F. Isles, a vice-pre-sident, when he was interviewed by “The Press”:— “Before Christmas, two men were discharged on charges on which they had no opportunity of defending themselves. The Federation of Labour took up the cases and, after several interviews with the general manager for the comnany, a stalemate was reached. After a full week off at Christmas, the carding and spinning departments were placed on a four-day week, which they had since worked. The mill manager then took the oppornity of discharging two union officials —one a branch representative and the other an executive member. “The union then charged the management with victimisation and intimidation. It decided to meet the manager, and discuss the questions with him, but before it could do that four other men were dismissed. The union accepted that as the answer to the charge of victimisation. “The union interviewed the manager last Thursday and after an hour’s discussion on ithe question of the dismissals and alleged victimisation no definite understanding was arrived at as to what policy he was following. He expressed fully the opinion that the dismissals were due to ‘a lack of orders, reorganisation of the staff, and action under the general manager’s instructions.’ He also gave ,the impression that some dismissals would take place this week. After that interview, two men were dismissed. Two Meetings Held

“The union held - two meetings at which the employees stated their grievances and the following morning thev were subject to‘ intimidation by a foreman. When a deputation approached Mim, the manager said such conduct as intimidation would not be tolerated inside the mill and hje_ would take immediate steps to have it suppressed. The union believes that the promised action was taken. “We consider that the dismissals are a move, in view of the award proceedings on March 22, to impress the Arbitration Court with the fact that the company is not in a position to meet the increased wages demands of the union. Further, this is an election year and we look upon the action as a political stunt.

“The amount of idleness in the industry and the importation last year of 6,000,000 yards of woollen material were discussed by our federation, at its conference at Christmas, with the Minister for Labour and the Minister for Industries and Commerce. There ■is no chance of the industry competing against such heavy importations and every effort is being made by the union to assist the company to overcome the difficulty of that competition. In view of the action we took, we think we deserve more consideration than we receive. The general_ manager has declined to meet the union officials. “The feeling in the mill is very uneasy. There is a feeling of fear and the mill Ys seething with discontent. The password now is: ‘Who is next?’ “The company is putting men off yet it is engaging weavers. two girls from Invercargill starting work this morning. And the work of the men leads up to the weaving. Where is the logic in that? Night Shift Cessation

“We contend that the first to go should be the last to join the mill, particularly as the night-shift men were told in the first place that the work was temporary. Night work was stopped a month before Christmas on machinery for worsted manufacturing being installed. “The whole thing .is viewed with great alarm for its effect on the minds of the workers, who are going about with the fear that they will be handed their pay envelope and a letter stating that their services will be terminated. Every businessman in Kaiapoi has been interviewed by the union. Something has to be done to stop the dismissals taking place.- The union has done everything in its power to assist the company in meeting demands to fill orders. The union is now actively organising the women workers in the mill.” No Comment to Offer - Beyond saying “We have by no means the volume of orders we had on hand at this time last year,” Mr V/. R. Carey, general manager cf the company, declined to comment when a precis of the union’s complaints waS referred to him. The mill manager (Mr G. Greenwood) also declined an invitation to reply to the general charges.