400 Burnside Freezing Workers Sent Home

Press, Volume C, Issue 29682, 28 November 1961, Page 16

400 Burnside Freezing Workers Sent Home

(NJZ. Press Association) DUNEDIN, November 27. More than 400 freezing workers went home from Burnside today after the New Zealand Refrigerating Company had refused to allow them to work on hourly rates instead of piece rates. Last week union members decided to work on hourly rates as from today as a protest over the company’s refusal to re-engage eight men at the beginning of this season. When the workers reported for work this morning, they were told by the company that unless they worked on piece rates of nearly £5 a 100 lambs there would be no stock for killing.

They were told piece rates were customary throughout the freezing industry, and any deviation was a breach of the award. It is understood union members held a secret ballot which reaffirmed their earlier decision. The men then left for their homes. Tonight the president of the Burnside branch of the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Union, Mr A. J. Kennedy, said the company’s action constituted a lock-out and the Otago and Southland district executive would meet tomorrow afternoon to consider further action. Mr Kennedy declined to add anything further in view of this meeting. The executive represents all Otago and Southland freezing works. Permanent Staff At Burnside today permanent staff handled about 400 lambs which were waiting at the works in the morning. During last week the works handled about 9000 lambs a

day—mostly from Canterbury. Killing at the other two Otago works—Pukeuri and Finegand—continued normally today. For Finegand, yesterday was the first day for this season. “There is no doubt in our minds that the action of the union members at Burnside constitutes a strike,” said the general manager of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company < Mr W. M. Cleland) today. Speaking from Christchurch, Mr Cleland said the offer of the union to work on an hourly basis was interference with the normal procedure of the works, and any action interfering with the customary procedure was in itself a breach o r the award.’ Award Sections Mr Cleland referred specifically to two sections of the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Award, which he considered relevant. The company was trying to abide by these sections, which had

been agreed to by the union as recently as August 16, this year, he said. Relevant portions of those sections, he said, were:— Section 13.—“ The employers shall retain and have full power to manage and contrri their own business and the conduct of their employees —to the hiring, conduct, duties and dismissal of persons in their employment.” Section 14.—“ The essence of this award being that the work of the employer shall always proceed in the customary manner and shall not on any account whatsoever be impeded . . .” Tonight the president of the Otago Trad?s Council (Mr W. B. Richards) said the executive was watching developments at Burnside very ciosely. “The trade union movemen. takes a dim view of workers being locked out under any circumstances.” The matter. no doubt, would come before the Trades Council executive at its meeting on Wednesday night.