Tobacco factory workers' claims

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32663, 20 July 1971, Page 15

Tobacco factory workers' claims

(New Zealand Press Association)

NELSON, July 19.

Negotiations for a 10c an hour wage increase and for penalty payments for dust and heat, have been begun by the New Zealand Workers’ Union on behalf of casual workers employed in the bulk leaf tobacco factories of W. D. and H. O. Wills, Ltd, and Rothmans Tobacco Company, Motueka.

The claims will be handled by the head offices of both companies, although, initially, they were made to the management of the Motueka factories after a meeting last Thursday. About 90 men and women are employed in the factories during the reception and processing of the season’s tobacco crop and the work lasts about three to four months.

They fall into the category of casual agricultural workers within the scope of the New Zealand Workers’ Union award.

'Dissatisfaction with wages and heat and dust conditions at the plants, led to the calling of a meeting of the workers with union officials. These included the union’s general secretary (Mr J. Hill) and the South Island secretary, Mr R. S. Wasley, of Christchurch. •

It has been reported that one of the workers’ major bones of contention is an actual drop in pay suffered as the result of the companies withdrawing this season a 12.5 c an hour “attendance bonus” paid for about half of last year’s season. This pushed workers’ hourly rates up to 99.5 c an hour. Last November workers received a 10c an hour increase and workers had high hopes that this increase would be treated as additional to the 12.5 c an hour of last year.

However, male workers this season are receiving 97c an hour 2.5 c an hour less than for a section of last season. Take-home pay Take-home pay for a single male worker is said to be a few cents more than $32 and for a married worker, $34 and a few cents. The hourly rate for female workers is 73c an hour.

Mr J. P. Wild, manager of the Wills company, confirmed today that union officials had approached his company for a 10c increase last Thursday. Any further negotiations, however, would be handled

by the company’s personnel division, he said. The manager of Rothman’s factory (Mr W. J. Boyden) said he was not in Motueka when the union’s representatives called but he understood they would be contacting his head office. However, he had spoken to his head office that day and was told that no approach had been made yet by the union. Mr Wasley was approached today to confirm and elabor-

ate on the negotiations but he refused to comment.