Works award agreement

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33189, 31 March 1973, Page 1

Works award agreement

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 30. After 17 days of talks which have been broken by disputes and stoppages, parties to the Freezing Workers’ Award reached final agreement this afternoon.

The negotiations have been among the longest on record for a settlement that is regarded within the industry as significant. Union claims were filed last year at the earliest date possible—an agreement was reached on the day of expiry of the award. Tn almost all categories, the freezing workers have settled for a 6 per cent rise across the board on present wages paid. This gives slaughterhouse labourers from $1.52 to $1.68 an hour. The basic minimum wage

• [has gone up from $57.85 to 1 1 $63.09. The freezing workers had ] claimed a 12 per cent inl crease, including last year’s ; 4.2 per cent cost-of-living order as against the employers’ 9.6 per cent offer, also 1 inclusive of the order. » But New Zealand’s 25,000 ' freezing workers will now 5 be able to enjoy a $ for $ ■ superannuation scheme to ' which employers could con- > tribute a weekly maximum [of $3.15. I There has been give and 5 ; take on the two issues (bedsides pay) which resulted in this week’s three-day stopj page. Both sides have agreed; Lon a document, not written, iinto the award, which sets! ’•out the lines of demarcation!

for union membership of quality controllers. It will mean that quality controllers as such will be regarded as “staff” members and therefore exempt from union coverage. Others, who routinely improve meat, will be designated union workers. Employers bowed to the union on the second issue—stockyard workers and cleaners will not be subject to shift work provisions. Other new features in the award are equal employment provisions for women, and three weeks holiday after two years service for ordinary workers and four weeks for shift workers.