“DEVELOPMENTS LIKELY”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29061, 25 November 1959, Page 22

“DEVELOPMENTS LIKELY”

Union Secretary’s

Statement

Further developments in the Islington freezing works dispute can be expected immediately, according to the secretary of the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union (Mr T. Handisides). “There will be further developments, but at the moment I am not prepared to say any more than that,” Mr Handisides said last evening. However, it is believed that the developments could mean an extension of the dispute to other freezing works, but Mr Handisides would neither confirm nor deny this. Men had reported for work at the New Zealand Refrigerating Company’s Islington works as usual yesterday and they would report again today, Mr Handisides said. The men have reported for work daily, although the dispute has kept the works idle since Tuesday last week. Mr Handisides said: “Two hundred men cannot continue to be locked out because the company will not honour the agreement signed in Wellington.” Killing at the works stopped when a dispute arose over the company’s refusal to re-engage 14 men who worked there last season. The company wanted to take on 36 new men, but union officials said the men would refuse to work with the newcomers unless the other 14 were re-employed. Talks between the company and union called by the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. W. Armstrong) were held in the city last Friday, but no agreement was reached.