Minister asks F.O.L. president to mediate

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33096, 11 December 1972, Page 18

Minister asks F.O.L. president to mediate

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, December 10.

The Minister of Labour (Mr Watt) has asked the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) to intervene in the dispute which has closed the Auckland city abattoir for the last fortnight.

Mr Watt said he had asked Mr Skinner to ! try to bring the two parties together, not as i president of the federation, but in his private i capacity. “I felt he was the man :tnost capable of getting the I parties together,” Mr Watt ! said. “I asked him to do this on my behalf, and I believe that (there is every possibility of getting a settlement to the dispute.” MEETING ARRANGED

Mr Skinner was in touch with officials of the Auckland Freezing Workers’ Union today, and they will meet representatives of the Auckland City Council tomorrow morning.

Auckland butchers, with the abattoir closed, have been trying to get meat from country* areas. A threatened stoppage by members of the Auckland Meat Carriers’ Association from tomorrow will mean even more difficulties for them.

Most independent butchers and many supermarkets are having difficulty in getting any meat to sell. The Auckland Meat Co., Ltd, which had sufficient meat to keep its 46 retail outlets supplied until Friday, is

11 doubtful about how it will; ) ; get on this week. , , “We’re hoping and prayjing,” said a spokesman this ’i evening. “We’ll just have to • ; wait and see.” b.l | ONE ASSURED SUPPLY The only shops which api pear to have an assured sup- > ply of meat are the 40 retail t outlets of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd, which are supplied by , the company’s own abattoir. f A spokesman said this evenf ing that the shops had had

11 a considerable increase in trade, particularly in the last ■ week. i The dispute at the abattoir i involves the positions of five men, whom the union alleges were employed only on a temporary basis and' should now be removed from their present jobs on the killing chain. , The abattoir management ■ and the City Council are . equally determined that the men should not be removed I from their posts.