100 on strike at woollen mill

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 1

100 on strike at woollen mill

(By our Industrial reporter) The dismissal of a branch union secretary at Millers Worsted Mills, Ltd, Christchurch, led to about 100 woollen workers walking off the job yesterday.

The woollenworkers decided—by secret ballot —not to return to work until the reinstatement of the secretary, Mr S. Dee.

Although it is not normal industrial practice for negotions while workers are on strike, the management has agreed to meet officials of the Canterbury Woollen Workers’ Union this morning. Neither the factory manager (Mr T. Holmes) nor the Canterbury union secretary (Mr L. T. McGinn) would answer questions about the dismissal, but it seems that the dispute—like the present strike of about 200 Firestone workers in Christchurch—may be over the payment of production bonuses. BONUS-RATE “TALK”

Mr Holmes said in a statement that Mr Dee had been dismissed for a breach of a clause in the Woollen Workers’ Award which specifies

that every employer shall have full control over management of his own factory.

Mr Dee had told two nightshift spinning operatives to reduce their normal workload by ene-third until further notice, he said. This had been done without any prior consultation with the management and when asked for an explanation, Mr Dee had said that he could not discuss the matter until he had consulted his executive. He was then dismissed. Asked if there was a dispute over bonus rates, Mr Holmes said “not at this Soint,” but said that there ad been talk by the union on this issue. Asked if reducing production by onethird would have the effect of stopping bonus production, he said: “It is a lot more complex than that.” Mr McGinn refused to comment when asked specifically about the reason for Mr Dee’s action, but made it clear that the request had the support of the union.