Govt calls talks

Press, 27 May 1978, Page 1

Govt calls talks

PA Wellington The Government has called a compulsory conference in an attempt to break the load-out ban that is being applied at freezing works. But the national secretary of the New Zealand Meat Workers’ Union (Mr A. J. Kennedy) said last evening that the Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) had made no mention of his hopes in a telegram sent to the union. Mr Kennedy said that the bans would "not necessarily” be lifted before the compulsory conference met. “Our people have lifted them and put them back on before, and they are getting a bit tired of it,” he said. However, he was “always hopeful” of any new move to solve the dispute.

Announcing the call for a conference yesterday Mr Gordon- said he hoped it would result in the ban being “lifted forthwith.” The conference has been called for Monday, under the chairmanship of Mr J. W. Dempsey. The dispute in the freezing works results from a decision applied by the freezing companies not to pass on the 1973 wage adjustment to all incentive workers. Talks on the impasse between the union and freezing companies broke down this year. Mr Gordon said the conference was a further attempt to have the matter resolved by discussion between the parties. Although the chairman would not have power to make a decision, he would report to Mr Gordon on progress of the talks. The executive director of the Freezing Companies’ Association (Mr P. D. Blomfield) said last evening that he hoped a return to work in all

works \would allow the conference to go ahead. "We repeat that the problem must be resolved by legal means and should have been referred to the Arbitration Court,” he said. Mr Blomfiek' said that 17 freezing works were affected by load-out bans, and that go-slows were affecting another eight. From Hastings it is reported that the sevenweek Whakatu beefhouse dispute is over. Beefhouse workers agreed after a . meeting yesterday afternoon to return to work on Monday. Mr M. Kitchin, president of the Whakatu subbranch of the Meat Workers’ Union, described the agreement between union and management as a compromise all round. It would mean greater productivity for the company and “modest” pay increases for the workers. Mr Kitchin said details of the new contract would not be released.