STRIKE CALL OPPOSED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28776, 23 December 1958, Page 12

STRIKE CALL OPPOSED

Wellington Men Divided (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NTH., Dec. 22. Dairy workers from the Wellington Province tonight in Palmerston North rejected a motion to stand in support of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Workers’ Union in “any action it might take” to overcome the present crisis in the dairy industry. They reached this conclusion after one of the noisiest meetings ever held in Palmerston North and after scenes which, at one stage, brought a threat from the president of the meeting to evict a person from the hall. The counting of votes took place three times, and was completed only after the two factions went to opposite sides of the hall. Those who voted against the motion to support the strike cal] emphatically declared that workers should not resort to strike measures in their efforts to increase the basic wage ratp. As they moved to one side of the hall, they were heckled by fellow workers, and were told by one man that they were “mugs” and by another that they were taking the step to avoid victimisation from their employers. President’s Statement Earlier, the meeting had been told by Mr D. Fitzgerald, of Shannon, the president of the Wellington branch of the union, that those who did not vote for the motion that the meeting support the national union in any move .to increase the minimum wage scale “would get it in the neck.”

Mr Fitzgerald had appealed to the meeting to support the motion with the words: “Support us tonight and you will put the biggest bargaining power ever placed in our hands with which to meet our employers.”

But Mr Fitzgerald’s appeal was met with loud protests from one side of the hall. One man. who was applauded by his colleagues; called out: “If we are sacked, you will keep your job, but what about the men with families and homes?”

Mr Fitzgerald: What do you want to do—strike or not? Loud calls: No. no—we don’t want to strike. That’s the last resort.

One man .who had made fairly frequent interjections, said that if workers went on strike, the “worker would be the only loser.” To this, Mr Fitzgerald replied that the employees would not have to strike because the employers “would come to light” and give just what was requested. He said the threat of strike action would bring 99 per cent, of what the worker was asking for. Count Disputed When Mr Fitzgerald’s motion was first put to the meeting on a show of hands. Mr Fitzgerald, himself, counted 64 votes for the resolution He was quickly checked by a member of the audience, who said that only 57 members of the meeting had voted to support the national union, and at the request of the meeting. an employee took the stage to conduct the final count. The main argument put forward by workers who did not support the ultimate motion was that employees had not been notified of the strike threat and had not received notice of the contemplated move until they read press reports. Unanimity The meeting was unanimous, however, that the basic wage rate for dairy industry workers was too low and that employees should not have to work more than the five-day. 40-hour week tn secure a salary in keeping with employees engaged in other industries Mr Fitzgerald later told a press representative that only the fact that a meeting was held should be reported.