Employers’ New Offer In Freezing Works Dispute

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29222, 4 June 1960, Page 14

Employers’ New Offer In Freezing Works Dispute

(Aeto Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 3. The dispute in the freezing industry over the question of restrospective payment has apparently become a war of nerves with the possibility of international repercussions. In an effort to break the deadlock of Thursday’s compulsory conference between the freezing companies’ representatives and the representatives of the unions, the employers tonight handed a proposal to the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. W. Armstrong). The employers, however, would not release the terms of the proposals till Mr F. P. Walsh, the president of the Federation of Labour, who is the workers’ advocate, was informed. A reporter who talked to Mr Walsh tonight found him unaware of the proposals. Told of the move, Mr Walsh said: “I have nothing further to add to my statement of this morning.”

This morning Mr Walsh said he was calling a special meeting of the F.O.L. executive for Tuesday morning to which representatives of the freezing workers, Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Engine Drivers’ and Firemen's Association, drivers’ organisations, and the North and South Island waterside workers’ associations would be invited. These are the unions that will be affected if the freezing workers decide to impose a “no load out” ban on carcases. Mr Walsh said he was communicating with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the British Trades Union Congress and the Seamen’s Union of Great Britain, and Ireland. “I am asking them for assistance to force the meat operators to honour an agreement they had with us concerning the retrospec-

tive pay arising from incorporation,” he said. When Mr Walsh’s stand was referred back to Mr J. B. Walton, the employers’ advocate, Mr Walton repeated that he could not release the terms of the proposal till he knew the workers had them.

If this had not 'been done by Sunday, Mr Walton said, he was

instructed to release the terms for Monday morning. Mr Armstrong, in Christchurch, said he. too, could not release the proposals till they had been handed to the workers’ representatives. All he would say was that “it could be a solution” and that it contained “certain proposals” for a settlement. Earlier in the day, Mr Walton was asked if the employers would make any overtures, and at that time he was not aware of any suggested compromise. The employers’ proposal was a later decision.

It is thought the employers have offered a more recent date, possibly April 1, to which the incorporation of the 24 per cent, general wage order would be retrospective. An Auckland source suggested the employers were willing to accept the decision of the Conciliation Commissioner. There is no indication that this would be acceptable to the freezing workers, who are understood to have held meetings throughout the country which endorsed the “no load out” proposal if it became necessary. Most of the season's killing has finished, and the Meat Board’s figures to the end of April showed that about 50 per cent, of the carcases had already been shipped. Mr Walton estimated today that there might be still more than 10OC00 tons in store.

He also said the Meat Board was being kept informed of the position.