Freezing works wage rise

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32474, 8 December 1970, Page 1

Freezing works wage rise

(By our industrial reporter)

The freezing workers have been awarded a wage increase of 13.4 c an hour by an independent arbiter, Mr N. Pelvin of Auckland. This is additional to increases of 11c an hour for general labourers, and 13.8 c for freezing chamber hands, agreed on in negotiations in October.

A freezing companies spokesman said in Wellington last evening that he was “aghast” at the decision. The workers’ advocate (Mr F. E. McNulty, of Christchurch) expressed mild disappointment that their full claim had not been met, but said the claim had nevertheless been vindicated.

The minimum pay in the freezing works is now $1.30 an hour, and most labourers have a margin above this. The new wage for a slaughterman’s assistant is $1,355 an hour, and the freezing chamber hand goes on to $1,434.

These rates do not include the latest general wage order and are therefore subject to another 3 per cent. With the 9c an hour negotiated in March for the current award, the slaughterman’s assistant’s wages have risen by 32.8 per cent this year. This is an actual increase in earnings, whereas most award increases of this order have absorbed large ruling rate payments.

The slaughterman’s assistant now earns 1.5 c an hour less than the $1.37 which is coming to be accepted as the standard wage for a tradesman with the basic qualifications. Relativity aspect In a four-page judgment, Mr Pelvin summarised the submissions made by Mr J. Murray, of Wellington, on behalf of the employers, and by Mr McNulty, and said:

“On the matter of relativity it is clear that the freezing worker has had a basic adult rate above that of unskilled workers and at times above that of tradesmen.

“The historical significance of the freezing rates cannot in my opinion be overlooked, making it necessary to have some regard<o relativity. “Many submissions were made of the skill of certain operations in the industry and also 6f the financial state of the industry, each of very much importance in themselves,” Mr Pelvin said. "I have considered these

-carefully in the light of 'current events but nevertheless I am of the opinion that [there is a need to restore I some relativity on a general basis. 1 further consider that the rate of $1.30 an hour should be paid under Section 49(8) of the present

New Zealand (except Westland) Meat Processors, Packers and' Preservers and Freezing Workers’ Award and rule accordingly.”

Full claim Commenting last evening, Mr McNulty said that the workers were disappointed that the arbiter had not granted the full November claim of 23c an hour, with percentage increases for piece-workers, but they were pleased he had recognised that the freezing workers’ relativity had been eroded.

“His decision has vindicated our claim,” Mr McNulty said. “It will be noted! that when added to the in-' terim agreement of 11c, we have won 24.4 c out of the 25c we claimed in October. “It should also be noted,” he said, “that in our submissions to the arbiter we said the pay increases could be absorbed by the freezing companies, and there was no need to pass them on to the farmers by way of higher killing charges.”