No settlement at K.P. plant

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34151, 12 May 1976, Page 24

No settlement at K.P. plant

A strike by fertiliser plant processors and dispatch workers at the 1 lornby factory of Kempthorne Prosser and Company, Ltd, is unresolved, and the men plan to stay out until tomorrow at least.

The men walked off the job on Friday in protest at the company’s refusal to negotiate a travelling allowance with the workers, who are all members of the Meatworkers’ Union.

About 700 tons of fertiliser production is being lost each day of the strike, according to the factory’ manager (Mr M. Blowers).

The men met yesterday morning, and the union approached the management with a proposal that they would return to work if there was a promise to begin negotiations for a travelling allowance.

Kempthome’s management rejected this as it believes there is no justification for an allowance at the Hornby plant. The union claims that allowances are paid by every other party to the’ award which the workers come under. The organiser of the Canterbury branch of the Meatworkers’ Union (Mr R. G. Kirk) said the union had wanted travelling allowances included in the terms of the award when the parties met for conciliation last year. The employers had said that most parties already had house agreements for these and other allowances. Mr Kirk maintains that the union dropped this claim on the assurance during negotiations that Kempthome’s would discuss the matter with the union. Mr Blowers said that such an agreement was never made, and the management was ready to discuss allowances but not a strict travelling one, which was not justified. Mr Blowers said the company could not accept the men back to work on the understanding that they would negotiate a travelling allowance, which, he said, could lead to workers at all types of factories in Hornby

asking for a travelling allowance. The processing and dispatch workers were joined yesterday by the acid plant workers, bringing the total on strike to 60 men. The strike comes at a bad time for the company, which has a heavy demand at present for fertiliser. Mr Blowers said that if the farmers could not get the superphospate now they may have to delay until spring, which would not be convenient for many. The workers will meet again tomorrow morning when another approach will be made to the employers. A decision on further action will depend on the outcome of negotiations then.