Minister calls freezing stoppage disturbing

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34089, 28 February 1976, Page 1

Minister calls freezing stoppage disturbing

(New Zealand Ptp,*s Association) WELLINGTON. February 27.

Stoppages today by freezing workers throughout New Zealand in support of meat inspectors at the Whakatu freezing works, near Hastings, were described by the Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) this evening as “disturbing.”

“They are not aware of the full facts of tvhat has happened at Whakatu over the last eight days,” Mr Gordon said.

All freezing works in Auckland have joined meat inspectors at works in Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, North Canterbury, and Christchurch in agreeing to protest actively against the suspension of 47 inspectors at the Whakatu works.

Apart frojn a one-day national stoppage next week, the inspectors have also approved a rolling strike that would amount to every shed in the country working a four-day week. Meat inspectors at North Canterbury works struck today, and will stay out until the suspension of the meat inspectors at Whakatu is lifted.

Meat inspectors at the Be:

fast, Islington, Kaiapoi, and Fairfield works are involved. Thousands of stock were left in the yards at these works when slaughtermen went home.

Tile 47 inspectors at Whakatu were suspended by the State Sendees Commission on Wednesday after refusing to do norma] work because of high noise levels from meat-cutting saws. The Public Service Association, which represents the men — who are employed by the Ministry of Agriculture — says they have been locked out. Mr Gordon said that the dispute started eight days ago when the inspectors stopped work over a rostering disagreement. “They resumed later, and gave an assurance that they would continue normal production, maintenance, and meet required health standards,” he said.

This agreement was broken when they stopped work on Wednesday — and they were suspended.

Mr Gordon said that the dispute had changed from a rostering dispute to one between the workers and the Whakatu management.

No plans He was watching the situation closely but had no plans he could announce about possible Government action if the dispute was not resolved by Monday. The manager of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, Ltd (Mr D. Morten), described the dispute as an internal one between the meat inspectors and the Ministry. The Belfast works were right at the peak of the kill at the moment, he said.

The chairman of the P.S.A. meat inspectors’ group committee (Mr I. T. Baldick), said that noise problems had been concerning the committee for| almost seven years. Most freezing works ’ used saws with very high noise levels.! Headaches, dizziness, and other side effects were all experienced by inspectors after long terms near the saws. “We issued a challenge to the Minister,” said Mr Baldick, “to lift the suspensions and let the men return to

work for an eight-hour day, as long as he worked an eight-hour day with them.” Meanwhile, many works throughout New Zealand

i were idle today, with sloe | waiting in the yards to b ; killed as a result of the mea I inspectors walking off th I job.