LABOUR DISPUTE AT KAWERAU

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 7

LABOUR DISPUTE AT KAWERAU

BUILDING WORKERS DISSATISFIED HOUSING CONSTRUCTION HELD UP (New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, December 17. Building workers employed at Kawerau, the new paper industry town, ceased work today after a meeting which lasted for more than an hour and was addressed by union representatives.

Although no official statements were made, it is believed that the dispute began over the transfer of men employed by Residential Construction, Ltd., who are at present housed in single men’s huts, to dwellings on the town site.

Residential Construction, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Fletcher organisation, is responsible for the erection of a large number of houses on the town site. The men have been occupying the huts which are required by Fletcher, Merritt, Raymond, Ltd., for the accommodation of workers who are building the Tasman paper mill. It is reported that the arrangement was that these huts should be made available to the mill firm as soon as the houses could be prepared for use as dormitories. A number of houses have been completed, and the men are living in them. They are eating at a communal dining room in the new community centre.

The men say that when it was decided to transfer 25 painters from the single men’s quarters to the houses, they objected to having to share rooms in the houses. It. is understood that Residential Construction. Ltd., provided stoves in the Sitting-rooms, hot and cold showers, a certain amount of furniture in each living-room, two b.*ds in each of the larger bedrooms, and one in the smaller rooms. Men Return to Quarters After today’s stop-work meeting the men returned to their quarters while the representatives of Residential Construction, Ltd., and the various unions involved, communicated with their respective headquarters in Auckland. Representatives of the union said said that the matter was “under negotiation.” There was no strike, but the men were solid in affirming that there would be no resumption of. work until the issue was settled. The employers’ representatives had 'no statement to make.

The unions involved include the Carpenters’, Painters’, General Labourers’, Fitters’, and Turners’, and Electrical Workers’ Unions. If no settlement is reached more than 600 men will be idle.

Eighty men employed by Churchouse and Shirley, the other contractors for house building at Kawerau, are not affected by the dispute. They have their own camp, and each man has a single room.

It is believed that the mill cqnstruction engineers plan to engage 100 more men immediately after the holidays, and accommodation will need to be found for them and for another 800 who will be added to the labour force as accommodation becomes available. It is estimated that single men’s huts, fully equipped and wired, cost £2OO a unit.