5% General Wage Rise For Tasman Pulp Engineers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31729, 12 July 1968, Page 1

5% General Wage Rise For Tasman Pulp Engineers

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 11. The Tasman Pulp and Paper Company, Ltd, and the Engineers’ Union reached complete agreement during wage talks in Kawerau yesterday and today, according to a company spokesman.

A new industrial agreement will run for 18 months. The settlement includes wage increases ranging from 80c to $l.lO a week and a 5 per cent adjustment in rates of remuneration.

The Timber Workers’ Union still awaits a reply from the Sawmillers’ Federation on a request for talks on cost of living increases. The union will call meetings of members to discuss further action if a reply is not received next week.

the Shipowners’ Federation has agreed to meet representatives of the Seamen’s Union tomorrow on the union’s claim for a 10 per cent wage increase.

Meetings of the Seamen's Union today in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Lyttei ton and Dunedin unanimously supported the national executive’s approach on the question. The executive had recommended “direct action” as from Monday if the shipowners refused to negotiate. The Freezing Workers’ Association load-out ban on meat exports as from midnight on Friday was “on” tonight The secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Association, (Mr F. E. McNulty) said the ban had been endorsed by all the workers who met to consider it today. Employees at the remain-

ing freezing works would meet tomorrow and he was confident the final result would be unanimous endorsement

The Auckland Freezing Workers’ Union will meet on Monday to consider disaffiliating from the Labour Party. The union secretary (Mr T. P Kelly) said members were “pretty wild” about the suggestion from the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) that the load-out ban be lifted.

Employers in Auckland met today to discuss the Govern ment’s rejection of the plan to change the stabilisation regulations. Local meetings in Wellington and Christchurch were planned for tomorrow.

The secretary of the Employers' Federation (Mr P. J. Luxford) said the regional meetings could be followed by another meeting of the federation at the national level He said it was impossible to say positively if this would be the case or what the employers’ attitude would be Employers had not yet had time to assess the latest developments. Today, drivers at three more breweries threatened stoppages if demands for a 7.6 per cent wage increase were not met Speights Brewery drivers in Dunedin have given the management until 5 p.m. tomorrow to reply. The same time limit applies at the Timaru branch of New Zealand Breweries. Standard Brewery drivers

In Palmerston North have set their deadline at 5 p.m. on Monday. In the meantime they will carry only normal deliveries to the hotels. Drivers at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch breweries already have stopped work. Rail Employees

The national council of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants will meet tomorrow. Probable points for discussion are the rejection of the proposed change in the stabilisation regulations, the 5 per cent interim wage rise called for by the Combined State Services Organisation, and the rejection of a 7.54 per cent margin for skill by the Railways Industrial Tribunal.

Today, more potential trouble spots - developed as other unions made claims for wage rises. The Dairy Factory Workers* Union called for immediate negotiations with employers for a 7.6 per cent wage increase. The Printing Trades' Union asked for a meeting with the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association to discuss a 7.6 per cent wage claim. The union has 9000 members throughout the country employed by N.PA. and Master Printers* Association members. The Otahuhu branch of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association announced it would ask for a 10 per cent increase. The Northern Drivers’

Union has made a 7.6 per cent wage claim on the Auckland Master Carriers’ Association as well as the breweries. The union will also seek increases from the North Shore depot of Transport Holding and the Hygrade Packaging Company. The Labourers’ Federation achieved a settlement for cement workers on Wednesday and is now trying to arrange negotiations with the Master Builders* Federation. The building workers* award has another 14 months to run, but the union is looking for an interim increase. The master builders have agreed to meet the union, but no date has been set.