The Press WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1973. Back to conciliation on meat works award

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 38186, 28 March 1973, Page 22

The Press WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1973. Back to conciliation on meat works award

By agreeing to resume production at the freezing t works and to resume negotiations in conciliation ( council, the disputing parties in the meat industry t have made a welcome return to conciliation and h arbitration as the means for settling industrial p differences. Special provisions have been made for j ( settling disputes in the freezing industry; but there is no obvious reason why the customary procedures ; of conciliation and arbitration should not be followed I when awards have to be negotiated. Matters of pay I rates and working conditions are not easily ; separated in the negotiation of awards. An j: carder suggestion by the Minister of Labour (Mr Watt) that some of the claims be deferred for J consideration by a commission of inquiry into the j industry did not make good sense unless it had the p consent of both parties to the award negotiations. *, Recourse to the Court of Arbitration is still {i possible; but the parties have at least agreed to j' attempt to settle between themselves. Both must be ' aware that topics such as shift work are bound to be j examined at a later inquiry. In the meantime, the p economics of the industry, pay rates, and the |’ organisation of the industry’s work force are ‘ obviously intertwined and should be considered I together. A temporary agreement on shift work by j some employees, made without prejudice to proposals i that might come from a fuller inquiry, is surely to be preferred by both parties as an alternative to a prolonged stoppage of work. The negotiations for the new award, which will apply from the end of this month, have been long and obviously difficult. Both parties are to be commended for agreeing to a return to the discussions and to an acceptance, if necessary, of arbitration. Mr Watt’s effort yesterday to facilitate this agreement, and to lay emphasis on the disastrous results of any other course, is also j commendable.