TYRE FACTORY DISPUTE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27750, 30 August 1955, Page 10

TYRE FACTORY DISPUTE

MINISTER TO CHOOSE CHAIRMAN MEN RETURN TO WORK Firestone Tire and Rubber Company workers returned to work at the Papanui factory "yesterday morning t i r plant had been idle since July 30 because of a dispute over the dismissal of two job delegates. Parties to the dispute met yesterday afternoon to discuss the setting up of a disputes committee, as suggested by the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan) to consider the dispute. It was agreed that the committee, to consist of three representatives of the management and three of the Canterbury Rubber Workers’ Union, with an independent chairman, should meet on September 7. No agreement could be reached on the chairman, and the Minister has been asked to appoint one. When officials of the union met the secretary of the Canterbury Employers’ Association (Mr H. F. Rutland) yesterday, they were also unable to agree on whether advocates should be included as members of the committee. Mr A. B. Grant, secretary of the union, advised the Secretary of Labour (Mr H. L. Bockett) that the union desired advocates separate from the committee, and that there would be further discussjon on the point. In requesting the appointment of a chainnan, he said there had been no nominations from the employers, but two from the union. Procedure for the committee was to be decided after suggestions from both parties, he advised Mr Bockett.