FREEZING STOPPAGE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30886, 20 October 1965, Page 22

FREEZING STOPPAGE

Men Seek More Pay

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 19

Men at the Ngauranga freezing works stopped work this morning and at a threehour meeting formed a local action committee. Some 180 men attended the meeting, called to discuss the recent breakdown in negotiations for a national award.

The freezing workers have formed a national action committee to obtain an increase of 3d an hour in pay, and three weeks’ annual leave.

The employers want the agreement to have a clause giving them the right to nominate hours of overtime to meet local conditions and export commitments.

This is opposed by the national action committee which says the requirement cuts across all existing agreements regarding freezer loadcuts and can operate in all departments.

“I fail to see how trouble of some sort can be avoided when killing gets under way,” the president of the Wellington Freezing Workers’ Union (Mr F. Thorn) said after the Ngauranga meeting. The meeting decided to support the national committee’s request for the increase and holidays, Mr Thorn said.

The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. Armstrong) wants the parties to meet again. However, unions are alamant that they will not meet the employers unless they are offered the requested increase and stipulated holidays. PORT BUSY Lyttelton should be a busy port today as several overseas and coastal vessels are due and may tax available berthage. The Federal Steam Navigation Company’s motor vessel Dorset, which is under charter to the Port Line, will probably berth at Cashin Quay to discharge 1500 tons of cargo from North Atlantic ports.