Union Tells Hotels Not To Bring In Beer

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 1

Union Tells Hotels Not To Bring In Beer

Any attempts by Christchurch hotels to bring in beer from Timaru would result in immediate counter-action by the unions, said the secretary of the Canterbury Hotel Workers’ Union (Mr L. Short) yesterday.

He said that a union organiser, Mr G. G. Walker, would go to Timaru on Monday morning to discuss with brewery workers the banning of the loading of all liquor from the Timaru brewery of New Zealand Breweries, Ltd. At 5 n.m. yesterday the three drivers employed by New Zealand Breweries, Ltd, in Timaru struck in sympathy with the 20 Christchurch drivers. If Christchurch hotels attempted to bring beer from the south they could have considerable difficulty in getting it unloaded, Mr Short said. Already members of the Canterbury Hotel Workers’ Union have adopted a resolution that they will support any action their federation calls on them to take to assist striking brewery drivers.

The secretary of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union (Mr N. Dunnill) yesterday said that Christchurch brewery drivers would meet again at 8 a.m. on Monday. Meetings of Christchurch brewery drivers and brewery workers yesterday morning decided to continue to refuse to carry or load all liquor supplies. The striking Canterbury drivers are seeking a 5 per cent increase in wages. Mr Dunnill said he wanted to scotch a rumour that drivers employed by oil companies in Christchurch were planning to strike. The rumour, he said, had caused a wild rush to have petrol storage tanks filled. Oil company drivers were not planning to strike. They would negotiate for a new award next month.