CHAMBER HANDS STOP WORK

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24270, 30 May 1944, Page 4

CHAMBER HANDS STOP WORK

WESTFIELD FREEZING WORKS STOPPAGE IN BEEF SLAUGHTERING (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 29. Freezing chamber hands employed at the Westfield freezing works stopped work shortly after 11 o'clock today after the management had suspended four men who had refused to carry out certain work according to the instructions of the foreman. The employees were idle for the remainder of the day while negotiations continued between their union representatives and the management. Conditions of employment in the chambers have been in dispute over recent weeks, and the discussions culminated in a conference of the men and employers’ representatives. The workers had advanced suggestions for new "shed rules,” but after negotiations work proceeded normally on practically the former conditions until to-day, when several men declined to do certain jobs allocated to them. After their suspension other employees ceased work, The staff hands of the company undertook to carry o n with essential loading work, and this was completed by continuing to a late hour in the evening. Between 80 and 90 men are regularly employed in the chambers, although they are not always engaged simultaneously, and-shift work is customary. Slaughtering on the beef floor was also curtailed, at the works in the afternoon, when the shacklers stopped work. These workers were involved in a stoppage last week when, after an accident to one of their fellows in the cattle knocking-pit, all beef floor employees ceased work and demanded increased wages for shacklers. On an understanding that the dispute would be considered at a conference with the wages commissioner, Mr C. L. Hunter, the men resumed work last Friday, after a stoppage of about two days. At 3.15 p.m. to-day the shacklers decided to stop work on the ground that they had received no information on their claim to a wage increase. ' No further developments have been reported on the application of freezing workers employed in all establishments in the Auckland district for a 30 per cent, increase in wages and other concessions, including double time for Saturday work. The demands were sent to the employers Inst week with a request by the union that a reply be furnished in 14 days.