Abattoir Strike

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31030, 9 April 1966, Page 14

Abattoir Strike

Sir, —All credit to Mr Sproston for his positive statement regarding the abattoir strike Everyone is fed up with the pointless strikes of labour unions throughout the country. Of course it is the democratic right of workers to strike when conditions warrant it, but it is an abuse of this privilege when workers demand exorbitantly high wages, sometimes greater than those of the management. Admittedly this work is of an unpleasant nature, but surely the high wages and the short hours compensate adequately for this. Why, then, are union members demanding excessively high wages? Nor is it the democratic right of the union to intimidate either the management or workers who disagree with its ruling. It is time that the Government of this country did something to limit the power of trade unions and improve employer-employee relationship.—Yours. etc., MURRAY RYBURN. April 6, 1966.

Sir, —The total disregard by the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union of the rules and principles of conciliation and arbitration can only be viewed with disgust and contempt by all fair-minded neople. The I.C. and A. Act is surely one of the soundest and most just ways of settling major labour-management disputes; yet this militant union ha no regard whatsoever for the act or any moral regard for its obligation to the rest of the community. The main point to be remembered is that this type of strike affects their fellow-workers, most pensioners, and the children—not the people with money Perhaps, on the other hand, it is a challenge to authority, and law and order.—Yours, etc., F. W. P. F. April 7, 1966.

Sir, —As the housewife Is the one most affected by labour disputes, why not a concerted effort by the wives of today to strike at, say, next Christmas holidays, unless an assurance is given us bv the New Zealand Workers’ Union that no illegal strikes will be condoned in 1967.—Yours, etc. LYSISTRATA. April 6, 1966.