FREEZING WORKS STOPPAGE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23538, 16 January 1942, Page 6

FREEZING WORKS STOPPAGE

—♦ — TRANSPORT FACILITIES TO WESTFIELD

DIRECT ACTION TAKEN

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, January 15. A sudden decision by about 139 slaughtermen employed at the Westfield Freezing Company s works to cease killing at noon to-day resulted in another 270 workers being rendered idle and the works programme being completely disorganised for the remainder of the day. There was no dispute with the management, which was not acquainted with the full developments until the slaughtermen had left the works. Dissatisfaction with the bus transport service between the works anci the city, which was recently curtailed because of the petrol restrictions, was given as the men’s reasons for ceasing work, and it was stated that they had also decided not to work after midday in future until an improved service was provided. When the position was brought to the notice of the No. 1 Licensing Authority, Mr E. J. Phelan, in the afternoon, he took immediate steps to advise the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson) in Wellington. . . The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr C. L. Hunter) was also concerned in the discussions, and stated to-night that as the restoration of the full petrol allowance to the bus company had been authorised, it was anticipated that there would be no further holdup of operations at the works. “We had no warning of the stoppage of work, and the disgraceful part is that the men simply walked out after telling the foreman at noon that thhey had finished for the day," said a representative of the works management. The lamb-killing season was at Us highest peak, and the management was left with about 5000 lambs whicn were due to be handled in the afternoon. The stoppage affected many of the other allied departments, and in all about 400 workers were thrown idle. "It is intolerable that any grievances outside the works should be approached in this way,’’ he added. The dislocation of workers’ bus services had been foreshadowed when the petrol restrictions were announced. said a representative of the passenger transport company which operates the service between Otahuhu, Westfield, and the city. Only 12 of the company’s fleet were petrol-driv-en buses, and they were only used in the morning and evenings to cope with workers’ traffic. Four buses had been taken off the road because of lack of petrol. It was admitted that there was, cause for complaint. The position had been aggravated by the cancellation of petrol licences for workers’ cars which had transported groups of men to and from work. Mr Phelan said that he had received representations from the workers as far back as December 17. He had set out the text of the men’s grievances and forwarded them to the Transport Department in Wellington, and had added a personal note stating that in the event of satisfactory tram arrangements not being made something would have to be done to enable the workers to travel to and from their work. He said he was also prepared to grant licences for private motor-cars for the express purpose of group transport of men residing beyond ordinary service routes.