Watties, Unilever Boycott Endorsed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32252, 21 March 1970, Page 46

Watties, Unilever Boycott Endorsed

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 20.

The Wellington Drivers’ Union “fully endorses” the action of the Otago Drivers’ Union in its boycott of Watties and Unilever products, but is not itself taking direct action at the moment, its secretary (Mr K. Douglas) said this morning.

He said the question of price increases would be fully discussed at next Monday’s management meeting of the Wellington Trades Council. and also at the council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday. However, it was reported in (Gisborne that the Gisborne Trades Council does not endorse the boycott. At the same time, delegates at last night’s meeting of the council generally agreed that, in face of Government inac- | tion, it was understandable that public reaction to con- ! tinuous price increases should | mount to the point of threats 'to impose boycotts.

“This is a matter on which I we have to be very careful as a boycott can threaten working conditions and even employment,” said the secretI ary (Mr G. ,1. Murray). “It was a resolution of the [ meeting of interested parties I held in Auckland three weeks ! ago that before a boycott is ! put on any goods the union covering the workers employed in the particular industry will be consulted. That undertaking was not honoured as far as our 600 to 1000 cannery workers are concerned. “Indeed the boycott went on at a time when the cannery workers were committed . to wage negotiations. “In any case, why should the manufacturer and his workers he penalised when the injustice, if there is any. may well be emanating from another quarter. “The statement by Sir James Wattle that the price of his company’s tinned fruit [ was held stable for six years: is apparently irrefutable. Bui when one observes the violent fluctuations in shop prices of the same products it is rather ! obvious that the wholesale- [ retail mark-up is a highly variable factor.”