Firm stand by employers

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32639, 22 June 1971, Page 1

Firm stand by employers

(By our industrial reporter)

Stop-work meetings will be held in Christchurch on Thursday and Friday to discuss wage negotiations on behalf of electricians and metal trades workers. Meanwhile, the freezing workers—as represented by the new national Meat Workers’ Union —have lodged claims for their next award.

Maintenance electricians in Canterbury, Westland, Nelson and Marlborough are claiming a 15 per cent wage increase, but the emnlovers held fast at 7

per cent during Conciliation Council proceedings in Christchurch yesterday. The electricians’ union secretary (Mr L. Fortune) described the employers’ offer as insulting and said no date had been set for a further Conciliation Council hearing. The next step, he said, was over to the men themselves, and would be decided on Thursday. Metal trades employees are also standing firm on a 7 per cent wage offer, and Conciliation Council pro- I ccedings in Wellington yester- , day were adjourned till next I month. Christchurch metal i workers will hear a report on i this at a stop-work meeting on Friday. The present freezing workers’ award still has three I months to run, but their advocate (Mr F. E. McNulty) has already put in a bid for a 12 per cent wage rise and a considerable advance in conditions, including the provision of severance pay, sup-1 erannuation, travelling allowance and jury service payment. It is understood that the I

employers’ response to these claims will be a last-ditch offer at 7 per cent wage increase and that this offer will be reduced by the value of any improvement in conditions which is conceded.