PRESSURE GROWING TO PAY FULL 5%

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 14

PRESSURE GROWING TO PAY FULL 5%

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 20.

Union pressure is growing for employers to grant full 5 per cent increases on ruling rates of pay, instead of increases of up to $2 as ordered by the Arbitration Court’s recent decision.

About 450 workers in Auckland today were on strike seeking the wider application of the increase.

Mr G. H. Anderson, the secretary of the Northern Drivers’ Union, which has already requested a “no ceiling” 5 per cent increase for a number of its members, said today: “This is just starting. It will go right through About 1500 freezing work-! ers at the Westfield Freezing j Company works continued their stoppage—now 13 days! old—in support of a wage! claim by 150 boning labour-] ers.

At a meeting this morning the>- agreed on a return to work under conditions existing when they stopped work, but refused to accept a company demand for agreement; on new disputes procedures as I a condition of returning to! work. Status Quo The secretary of the Auckland Freezing Workers’ Union (Mr T. P. Kelly) said that a document produced by the employers for signature as a condition for a return to work was “a departure from what is normal.” But the workers had agreedi they would return to work! because ruling rates were! and lift bans on produce' entering and leaving the| works if they could do sol “under the status quo.” i The union executive would | discuss the situation again tomorrow and another meeting of workers would take place on Friday morning, unless there were earlier developments. Mr Kelly said that the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) was being kept informed of developments. Further Talks The acting general manager of the Westfield Freezing Company (Mr M. King) said that the company was available for further discussions with the union. Killing began again today at the Moerewa and Southdown works of the Auckland Farmers Freezing Cooperative, Ltd, which had been idle during stoppages by fitters.

The number of strikers grew against the Metal Trade Employers’ Association decision to withhold the 5 per cent Arbitration Court increase—where ruling rates were already above award minimums—until all boilermakers resume work. About 80 men at Steel Construction, Ltd, struck today, together with workers for Dillingham-Stevenson, Ltd, and Price Norsteel, Ltd, at the Glenbrook construction site of New Zealand Steel, Ltd, and for Hume Steel, Ltd.

The assistant secretary of the Auckland Employers’ Association (Mr D. E. Stewart) said that the employers were prepared to adjust rates up to the Court’s $2 a week increase maximum even when, well above award rates, they did not legally have to. The employers’ and workers’ representatives on the Arbitration Court had agreed on the extent of the order, and because of this the employers were not prepared to go past the extent of the Court’s order, said Mr Stewart.

Workers at Humes and Price Norsteel will meet tomorrow and may be joined by workers from other firms. Drivers, electricians, fitters and labourers are among those who have also stopped

work seeking a “no ceiling” 5 per cent increase. The Northern Drivers’ Union has sought a “no ceiling” 5 per cent rise for New Zealand Breweries, Ltd, drivers and will discuss a similar request on Friday with the Auckland branch of the General Contractors’ Federation. About 30 glassworks drivers have already banned overtime after being refused such an increase

In a separate dispute, about 120 oil tanker drivers will meet on Monday to discuss a breakdown in conciliation over a new award. Tomorrow morning 80 or 90 steel erectors from the Auckland area will also meet to discuss a similar breakdown in conciliation talks on wage rates and conditions.