Boiler attendants settle dispute at cannery

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 3

Boiler attendants settle dispute at cannery

PA Hastings A dispute which stopped production at J. Wattie Canneries, Hastings, Gisborne, and Christchurch factories during the week-end has been settled. Thirteen boiler attendants refused to work last weekend, leaving about 2500 other factory workers without work.

The dispute centred on a house agreement that expired on February 21 but on Monday a new agreement was signed between the company and the boiler attendants’ representative (Mr C. Devitt). The stoppage has put the canneries two days behind in its production, according to the managing director (Mr R. K. Wattie). Some bean and corn crops S

had been lost, but Mr Wattie said because the disruption was so short the company was unlikely to invoke a clause in the growers’ contracts which says the cannery will not be responsible for losses caused by strike action. Mr Wattie said a registration payment by employers to the boiler attendants was discussed at Monday’s meeting, but was not included in the house agreement. Boiler attendants had been trying for several months to negotiate a payment of S 8 a week but the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said on Monday that the Government would pass regulations to prevent negotiation of the payment, f