Govt to revise award for freezing workers

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 1

Govt to revise award for freezing workers

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February’ 24. The Government is planning to revise completely the freezing workers’ award.

The Minister of Labour (Mr Faulkner) said today that the revision would be done after an independent job evaluation. This was in line with a recommendation of the recent commission of inquiry into the meat industry. The Minister said the Government would arrange a meeting between the freezing companies and the unions so that both could decide the terms of reference for such an evaluation. It was clear that the terms of the present award contributed “in no small measure” to industrial stoppages. On top of this, working conditions in the freezing industry were conducive to creating disputes. “I want to see the freezing industry on which our economy depends for vital overseas exchange earnings, proceed with effective industrial machinery and conditions, and that disputes are speedily dealt with while production is maintained,” he said. Disputes team The agreement between employers and unions in the industry on a new disputes committee' procedure for which the Government had accepted some financial responsibility was a significant step toward better industrial relations. The Minister said employers had agreed to more close liaison with the Labour Department in giving adequate warning of numbers likely to be laid off at the end of the season.

Every effort would be made to provide off-season employment — even semi-perman-ently. The department — with its upgraded employment service! — could now help more women with recruitment ini the industry, at works where increased employment of women had been agreed on.

Inspection In line with another commission recommendation, the Labour Department would shortly make a special inspection of all works to determine what improvements were needed to amenities. This would include such matters as ventilation and temperature control. A spokesman for the industry immediately welcomed Mr Faulkner’s proposals. Mr Peter Blomfield, executive director of the New Zealand Freezing Companies’ Association, said that the industry welcomed the opportunity to examine jointly the question of job relativity with the unions. He said he hoped, too, that a more objective manner of wage fixing would result.

“This study will not be an easy task, and fo do it justice may take some time," Mr Blomfield said. Commenting on staff 'amenities at freezing works I— of which Mr Faulkner said I there would be a Labour De-

partment inspection — Mr Blomfield said existing amenities were being modernised. Many freezing works had already provided recreational facilities, and improvements had been made to works in general.