Men back to work at Tiwai

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34072, 9 February 1976, Page 16

Men back to work at Tiwai

'.S' Z Press Association)

INVERCARGILL. February 8

Production at the Bluff aluminium smelter was back to normal today after the resumption of work by the 700 to 800 employees affected by the walk-out of one shift last Thursday afternoon.

The ultimatum which precipitated the walk-out arose

from a meeting attended by nearly 700 workers m Invercargill on Saturday morning.

Negotiations for a settlement were placed in the [hands of union officials and senior job delegates. The meeting on Saturday, i with the secretary of the [Southland Drivers’ Union (Mr 1 E. H. Soper) as chairman, was called to acquaint all workers with the problems that existed and to determine a I uniform policy. I The dispute stemmed from , grievances about the conditions in smoko rooms and ' canteens.

An ultimatum was given last Wednesday to management that it provide refrigerators in such places within 24 hours. The management was also given seven days to finish completely the smoko room for the stage-three pot- [ lines which have just been [brought into commission. [ When the ultimatum was inot met to the men’s satisfaction, the Thursday afternoon shift walked out and salaried staff were brought on to keep the plant active. Salaried staff continued to man the plant until 4 p.m. on Saturdav. Mr Soper said that the meeting on Saturdav morning fully supported the action taken by the potline workers.

The genera] manager of operations at the Bluff aluminium smelter (Mr T. G. Fairless) said today that he was very pleased with the workers’ decision to return to work.

Regarding their requests for improved facilities, he said that the management would be more than happy to handle any problems through the correct channels now that they had resumed work.

New High Commissioner. — The new British High Commissioner for New Zealand (Mr Harold Smedley) will arrive in Wellington today.— (P.A.)