Anti-bill protest by firemen

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 16

Anti-bill protest by firemen

(By our industrial reporter)

Christchurch Fire Brigadesmen will refuse routine duties today, tomorrow and on Thursday, as a protest against the Stabilisation of Remuneration Bill.

This measure has been adopted as the only way in which all the firemen can stop work, as at any one time some are on day shift, some on night shift, and some are offduty.

On each of these days, only the day shift will be affected.

Between 250 and 300 tannery workers and others in occupations related to the freezing industry are expected to attend a stop-work meeting today at the Irish Society Hall, also in protest against the bill. The meeting will start at 8 a.m., and it is . thought likely that the unionists will decide not to return to work for the remainder of the day. This was the policy adopted by other members of the same union—the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union — when they met on Thursday over the same issue. FIRST STOP-WORK

One of the smallest groups of workers in Christchurch —the dental technicians—will add their protest also with a stop-work meeting at the Canterbury Trades Hall. It will be the first time they have stopped work, and the decision to hold the stoppage was de-

cided only after an evening meeting of members last week. Christchurch hotel workers are also likely to decide on a protest stoppage during this week, but no arrangements have yet been made for a meeting.