Factory At Feilding Joins Meat Industry Disputes

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 1

Factory At Feilding Joins Meat Industry Disputes

Meat supplies to Wellington butchers may be threatened by a further dispute in the meat industry. Yesterday the entire staff of the Tiki Bacon factory at Feilding was dismissed over a dispute involving a company decision to employ women on a linking machine, the Press Association reported.

The secretary of the Wellington ’ Freezing Workers’ Union, (Mr T. F. Collerton) said last night that Tiki Bacon was a trade name of the Manawatu Meat Company, and any action taken by the union over the dismissals would be taken against the company.

Mr Collerton declined to comment on what action might be taken, but with about half of Wellington’s retail meat outlets supplied by the Manawatu Meat Company any stoppage or loading-out ban imposed by the union is almost certain to restrict supplies of meat to Wellington butchers.

Tbe dismissals were made wnei the union continued its refusal to permit women workers to run a new linking machine.

Mr Collerton said that in fairness to the management he wanted it understood that a conciliation commissioner had ruled that women could run the machine, but the union was adamant that it was a man's work and had told tbe commissioner before he made his ruling that it would not accept his decision. No Settlement

However, this did not excuse the management’s thoroughly irresponsible action of dismissing the entire staff, he said.

In Wellington yesterday the compulsory conference into the disputes at the Longburn freezing works failed to bring a. settlement After, the five-hour meeting the chairman (Mr H. L. Bockett), said no agreement had been reached and the meeting had ended with tbe employers making a proposal which was to be considered by the union. The union president, Mr F. B Thorn said last night that Mr Bocketfs comments seemed to suggest that the “ball is in the union’s court” This was definitely not the case, he said.

Tbe proposal referred tj by Mr Bockett was for work not to resumo till next Monday plus a series of demands completely unacceptable to

any group of working men. The proposal was made at the end of the meeting when it was obvious that no agreement could be reached, Mr Thorn said.

With the f ilure of the conference to reach a settlement of the Longburn disputes the next move is likely to be tbe calling of a commission of inquiry by the Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall). Mr Bockett said last night that no further meetings were planned, although he would be available to chair further discussions if requested. Tomoana Works The Press Association reported from Hastings that freezing chamber hands at tbe Tomoana works decided not to load out meat for export from freezers while the dispute over extra payments to them continued. Mr G. T. Taylor, the assistant general manager of Nelson (N.Z.), Ltd, said yesterday that the ban became effective from 2.30 a m. when the freezing-department men started work. He said the union and man-

agement were negotiating on a local basis over the extra payment of 8c an hour to freezing bands in addition to the 9c an hour grantee* in the new award. Auckland Strike All killing stopped at the Auckland City Council municipal abattoirs yesterday after a strike by workers at a firm servicing the plant, the Press Association reported. About 180 freezing workers were sent home. A spokesman for the com-' pany said that driven already I had a ruling rate and the company had been prepared to give increases to labourers and storemen that would mean an extra $6 and $8 a week respectively. The offers had been rAiartari i