Talks On Fertiliser Strike

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29802, 19 April 1962, Page 14

Talks On Fertiliser Strike

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 18. Representatives of the Labour Department and the Federation of Labour would meet tomorrow for discussions on the North Island fertiliser workers' strike, the Assistant-Secretary of Labour (Mr H. Parsonage) said tonight. The strike has halted fertiliser production throughout the North Island. The dispute started more than a week ago, when fertiliser workers went out on strike over a 5d an hour pay claim. Work resumed for a day when further discussions were held, but the results were not satisfactory to the workers, and work again ceased. The employers are offering a 2d an hour rise. Representatives of seven Auckland unions today urgently requested the national office of the Federation of Labour to take over the dispute. Representatives from the Waterside Workers', Carpenters', Drivers’, Electricians’.

Engine - drivers’, Freezing Workers’. and Harbour Boards Employees' unions met for an hour in the Trades Hall at Auckland this afternoon.

They said afterwards their unions would support the men who have stopped work and also any action the F.O.L. might take. The 700 members of the Fertiliser Workers' Federation stopped work on Tuesday. after a breakdown in conciliation proceedings with the employers. Representatives of both the employers and the federation said tonight the-e were no signs of a settlement being reached. There were no prospects at present of a further meeting between the parties, they said.

A spokesman for the unions represented at today’s meeting said the Fertiliser Workers’ Federation had reported on the dispute.

“We carried a resolution that we considered the men had a just case for an increase in wages and penalty payments and gave them our support,” he said. The secretary of the federation. Mr H. G. Chitham, said he would call a meeting of fertiliser workers at Otahuhu on Thursday next week to discuss the dispute. “There are no further developments.” he said. "We are awaiting word from the president of the F.0.L.. Mr F. P. Walsh.”

Employers’ representatives said they had had no communications with the federation.