FREEZING WORKS STAFFING

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25678, 15 December 1948, Page 4

FREEZING WORKS STAFFING

Chain Dispute Settled UNION’S OFFER ACCEPTED

A settlement of the dispute over the manning of the second chain at the Belfast works of Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia), Ltd., was reached late yesterday afternoon, and from to-day the chain will be manned by 21 men. Because of the late settlement of the dispute, the full manning of the extra chain this morning is not expected. The offer of the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ and Related Trades Union to allow a second chain of 21 men was made at a conference at Belfast in the morning with representatives of Borthwicks’ and the South Island Freezing Works’ Association, and was rejected by the company. The union was firm in its refusal to man a chain of 35, after it had ascertained that at the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company’s works at Belfast, where the one chain of 35 was not working on Monday, the men would be kept reasonably busy until Christmas. fiorthwicks’ rejected the offer of a second chain of 21 men until Christmas and of two chains of 30 slaughtermen for the slack period, which usually occurs in January. The company held that the 21-man chain was inadequate to cope with the stock offering, said Mr C. G. Wilkin, secretary of the Freezing Works’ Association, reporting the breakdown of the morning negotiations. Although later in the day the company sought an agreement on a 28man chain being manned, the union declined to consider any extension beyond 21 men. The point was emphasised by the union that if, because of north-west weather, the onrush of stock for the works began, a new situation would be created and the union, being reasonable, would have to meet it. Staffing when the stock position reached its peak would be the subject of discussion, according to the circumstances then existing. The final negotiations were brief and the union’s conditions were accepted. A broadcast was later made for 21 slaughtermen, plus auxiliary staff, to attend at the works this morning, when further discussions on staffing will be held between the company and the union.