80% Of Paper-Workers Vote To Go On Strike

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31209, 5 November 1966, Page 3

80% Of Paper-Workers Vote To Go On Strike

(New Zealand Pres* Association) AUCKLAND, November 4. About 1750 men employed at the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company, and N.Z. Forest Products, Ltd., the two biggest firms in the country, have voted overwhelmingly to go on strike.

The vote affects about 450 men at Tasman and 1300 at Forest Products. The men voted during a two-day ballot, conducted by the Labour Department.

The action has been taken over disagreements over wages and conditions.

Mr C. K. Glendenning, of Whakatane, secretary of the Federation of Wood-pulp Paper and Paper Products Workers, said a meeting of his national council would be held in Auckland on Tuesday to decide what action to take. Under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1913, there must be a week’s interval before a strike vote can be effective.

Mr Glendenning said the prospects of strike action were “quite likely” if employers did not negotiate. “If they approach us, we will be quite ready to negotiate—we are always open to negotiations.”

Mr D. Stewart, secretary of the Wood-pulp, Paper and Board Manufacturers’ Union, said the decision of the workers did not affect the firm view of his organisation that the proposals of both companies made in recent negotiations for a new industry agreement were fair and reasonable.

“In the integrated industries of both employers, the close-down of one section of the operations would inevitably lead to other sections coming to a halt and many hundreds of other workers being affected,” he said.

The Industrial relations manager for Tasman, Mr G. O. Whatnall, said even a 24hour strike could cause problems. “The starting-up process is not just a matter of flipping a switch. It would take some time before the

numerous plants could be back in full production.” It is believed that more than 80 per cent of the workers voted to strike.