Workers to seek further 20p.c.

Press, 7 April 1978, Page 1

Workers to seek further 20p.c.

PA Invercargill The Meat Workers’ Union seeks a 20 per cent wage increase for its members for the next exportkilling season. But. in a move that has staggered sources close to the industry, the union has also filed claims for “substantial” wage increases for higher-paid freezing workers, based on restoring “lost relativity” caused by Government intervention last month to settle the present award. The award claims are due to be heard in conciliation in July. Apart from an across-the-ooard 20 oer cent increase, the claims include a meal allowance increase from $1.60 to $2.50; waiting time for pieceworkers to be paid for at average

earnings; and an amendment to allow *hat only the award hourly rate be taken into account when calculating the weeklv minimum pay. As well, a substantial increase is sought to restore lost relativity to wool pullers, who would be paid rate-and-a-half for all skins pulled in excess of 800 a day. A discussion will be sought to have the weight of manually handled cartons reduced to not more than 501 b. under the freezing chamberhands clause. The executive of the Freezing Companies’ Association yesterday united in condemning the recent meat industry wage settlement regulations imposed bv the Government, reports Oliver Riddell from Wellington.

After a meeting of the executive, ail members of the association fully supported the actions and statements of its executive director (Mr P. D. Blomfield) in recent weeks. The association’s chairman (Mr E. Roberts) said the new rates and their application would cripple many companies and threaten their profitability, particularly in light of their commitments to meet stringent hygiene requirements which would cost the industry S2OOM. The new pay scales, plus the demands of tradesmen and clerical workers, would make it difficult for some companies to finance improvements from their own resources or to borrow enough funds for.,the purpose, Mr Roberts said. “The Government intervention means that the companies have been forced to absorb $4.6M and the Government share will cost taxpayers 54.6 M, making a total of $9.2M above what the association felt justified in offering.” Mr Roberts said. Mr Roberts said the association would try to reach finality on the tradesmen’s claims with the president of the Federation of Labour (Sir Thomas Skinner) on Monday, and as soon as possible thereafter try to resolve the clerical workers’ claims. The new rates would result in an increase of $3O a week for hourly workers and $2O a week for those on incentive payments. Pay rates would vary slightly from works to w’orks, but the general effect of the new regulations would be: A labourer who was getting $l3O a week would now get $160; a mutton slaughterman on $270 a week would now get $290: a beef butcher on $325 a week would now get $348.