Longburn Dispute Settled

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32215, 6 February 1970, Page 1

Longburn Dispute Settled

(.New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 5.

Agreement on a return to work tomorrow at Longburn freezing works was reached this afternoon at a meeting between union and management officials in the office of the Secretary of Labour.

The settlement involves the reemployment of all men dismissed last week during the dispute on the understanding that there is no sitting down during the authorised five-minute break.

Normal work at hourly I rates of pay is expected) to resume after a brief meeting of Longburn I freezing workers tomor-j row morning.

The way is now clear for negotiations to begin on the national issue of interim wage increases for mutton slaughtermen. An earlier breakdown in these negotiations led to freezing workers’ unions instructing their members to process mutton and lamb at hourly rates instead of the quicker piece-work rates.

The unions refused to consider an offer by the employers to begin negotiations for a new award for the whole of the industry while the Longburn dispute continued. The secretary of the Freezing Companies' Industrial Union of Employers (Mr J. Murray) said today that further proposals had been made to the unions. Freezing works throughout New Zealand were expected! to resume normal killing on Monday, the Minister of!

Labour (Mr Marshall) said tonight. The Minister, asked to comment on the settlement earlier today of the dispute at Longburn, said it was his understanding that the Long-

, burn works would be back in full production tomorrow and other freezing works by MonI day. Freezing workers at the Belfast freezing works of Thomas Borthwick and Sons (A’sia), Ltd, will take next Monday off as an unpaid holiday. The workers decided yesterday that as next Monday was the closest Monday to Waitangi Day there would be no killing at the works, i