State pay talks delayed by works strike?

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 1

State pay talks delayed by works strike?

PA Wellington Striking Public Service Association meat in« spectors could delay nego-, Stations about an early wage rise for State serv* ants.

The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) hinted yesterday that the meat inspectors’ action which yesterday closed three Hawke’s Bay freezing works may influence the Government’s decision on the rise for white collar State servants. The Combined State Unions have pushed for a 10.4 per cent interim increase since December, They argue that the annual State adjustment usually paid in October covers the 12 months to the previous October, and that State workers are hit harder by inflation because of the 12-month lag. Mr Muldoon said the Cabinet committee on State services would ’ consider the rise tomorrow. He said the Government and Combined State Union representatives were “very close to something that will be acceptable” but would not elaborate. But Mr Muldoon then said the Government was not happy about the P.S.A.’s attitude in the meat inspectors’ dispute and that the Police Associ-

ation, which has a separate group claim, had nof accepted the proposal. Meat 'inspectors at the Tomoana and Pacific works in Hawke’s Bay will stay on strike today, but Whakatu inspectors were to return to work.

P.S.A, meat inspector sub-branches will hold stop-work meetings this week and next week. Meetings yesterday at sheds in Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, . and Christchurch endorsed the P.S.A.’s stand so far as well as possible future action, said the deputy general secretary of the P.S.A. (Mr C. Clark). He was angry that Mr Muldoon had linked the meat inspectors with the general increase. “They don’t even get it — their pay is directly related to salaried meat graders employed by meat companies.” Whakatu inspectors walked out on March 27, halting killing at the country’s biggest works in protest against a Ministry of Agriculture disciplinary charge against a colleague who refused a transfer to Tomoana. The inspector has been charged with assaulting a meat worker and has denied the charge,