Fitters To Resume

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31760, 17 August 1968, Page 1

Fitters To Resume

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Aug. 16. Industrial unrest which continues to plague the railway and freezing industries threatens to spread to metal trades in Auckland.

Fitters on strike at the Moerewa and Southdown freezing works have agreed to return to work on Monday. But at the Westfield works 1400 striking freezing workers have decided to remain out until a bonus scheme is renegotiated. Little notice was taken by them of the threat of the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) to take legal action unless they resumed work. Meanwhile, the Amalga-

mated Society of Railway Servants is continuing its partial shunting ban and its ban on working bulk contractors’ sidings. Auckland was hit by a third industrial dispute today when engineering workers walked off their jobs at two city engineering firms and workers at a third plant refused to work overtime. In each case the dispute was over a demand for a wider application of the recent general wage order. The engineers, boilermakers and labourers want the 5 per cent increase on full ruling rates. The processing of bobby calves will be a priority job at the Southdown and Moerewa freezing works when the fitters and freezing men return to work on Monday. About 70 fitters employed at both works of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Cooperative, Ltd, heeded their union’s direction to call off the strike. Their decision meant a return to work for 2000 freezing men who had been idle for more than a week.

On Monday representatives of the Westfield Freezing Company will meet the full executive of the Auckland Freezing Workers’ Union to discuss a return to work. The Minister of Laboui (Mr Shand) sent telegrams today to Federated Farmers and other farming organisations to emphasise that he was well aware of the difficulties being met by many farmers as a result of the freezing workers’ strike in Auckland.

“1 am equally aware," he said in the telegrams, “that precipitate action which might please momentarily a few angry people could make the position very much worse and lead to further difficulty in the future."

Mr Shand said the disputes at Auckland, their causes, and the steps which might be taken both to resolve the dis-

putes and prevent further recurrence, had been the subject of intense discussions and negotiation between the Government, the freezing companies, and trade union officials headed by the Federation of Labour. He said in his telegram: “It is not possible to conduct negotiations in public, but the leaders of Federated Farmers and the president of the National Association of Bobby Calf Pools have been kept well informed of what is happening.”

Talks On Stoppage

(N.I. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Aug. 16. There had been no new developments in the partial stoppage by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, said a statement issued in Wellington today after executive members of the A.S.R.S. council had met the railways management in the office of the Minister of Railways (Mr Gordon). The statement added that cordial talks were held on matters not relating to the strike.

No Delay At Lyttelton

Ships at Lyttelton have not yet been delayed by the bulk loading ban. The Lyttelton stationmaster (Mr H. T. Rasmussen) said he did not expect any delays because few ships were in port. Coastal vessels have not been affected, and the bulk carrier Varangfjell, which was discharging phosphate with six cranes yesterday, is expected to sail for New Plymouth this morning to complete discharge.