DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24445, 20 December 1944, Page 6

DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS

♦ THREATENED STRIKE AVERTED NORTHLAND SETTLEMENT (P.A.) AUCKLAND, December 19. Having reached an agreement which provides for an increase in their weekly wages, dairy factory employees in Northland decided to-night to work the; factories to-morrow. Earlier it was reported that unless their demands for' higher wages were met, employees at the Whangarei. Hikurangi, and Maungatapere , Dairy Companies would cease work at 5 p.m. to-day, a decision to that effect having been made at a union meeting attended by men from each of these factories held in Whangarei- last night. Some factory emnloyees had received advice from their union that a- strike, _ general throughout New Zealand dairy factories, was to commence < at midnight, but later advice was received that this strike was off. after an address by Mr W. Marshall, of the New: Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Hamilton, -to a mass meeting of workers at one frctory. Information concerning the Northland settlement was given in Whangarei this evening by Mr A. J. Murdoch. M.P.. North Ward member of the New Zealand Dairy Board,'and Mr C. L. Collier, the union delegate, who also outlined* the basis of agreement reached. The agreement is to continue in force to and including. February 16, and is retrospective to October 29. The settlement- reached calls for a guaranteed weekly wage of £6 11s 8d on a 48-hour basis. This is 25s 4d above the rate provided in the new award for a 40-hour week, namely £4 16s bd. plus 5 per cent, and 5s cost of living bonus. For the eight hours over 40. for. the purposes of the increase, the first four hours are calculated at ordinary time, and the second four at time and a half. The agreement is to remain in force in Northland factories, irrespective of what agreement may be made in the- Waikato when employees and employers meet in January. However, if a Dominion award at a higher rate comes into operation, theft the higher rates will also apply to factories. At the conference were representatives Of factory workers at Whanearei, Hikurangi. Maungatapere, and TVTaungaturoto.-