SLAUGHTERMEN RESIGN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28234, 23 March 1957, Page 10

SLAUGHTERMEN RESIGN

Killing Stops At Pukeuri (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, March 22. Killing of sheep and lambs has been brought to a standstill at the Waitaki Farmers’ Freezing Company’s works at Pukeuri by the resignation of the 81 slaughtermen employed on the two chains. The secretary of the Pukeuri branch of the Freezing Workers’ Union (Mr A. S. Luxon) said the men had resigned because of unfavourable working conditions and inadequate rates of pay in comparison with other freezing works in Otago, Southland, and Canterbury.

“Negotiations with the management have failed up to now,” he said tonight He and other representatives of had conferred with union officers of other works today. They had agreed that the men at Pukeuri were not receiving fair treatment he said. The men resigned constitutionally. Each gave his prescribed one hour’s notice, according to the terms of the award, and the individual resignations were received by the company between 8 a.m. and noon yesterday. By clearing the board before stopping work, the slaughtermen ensured that there would be no loss of carcases. The management of the works had no comment to offer on the situation.

The Labour Department has not entered the dispute. Todiy, cattle were being kiUed at the works as usual, but no sheep or lambs. The export killing season for sheep and lambs normally continues to mid-June. It is believed that about 300 men in various departments of the works will be affected bv the action.