Livestock row in Aust. may spread to N.Z.

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 1

Livestock row in Aust. may spread to N.Z.

If Australian freezing workers are prosecuted for their action to stop exports of live sheep, industrial action might he taken in New Zealand works, the Meat Workers’ Union decided yesterday.

The ' action would be aimed at Borthwic.is, the multi-national meat company which is behind the export of live sheep to Kuwait from Portland, Australia. Australian meatworkers say that livestock exports are affecting .the ailing local meat industry. ■ Meatworkers tried to storm the wharf at Port-; land on Sunday as a Middle-East bound ship,, the Al Qurain, finished loading a cargo of live sheep. Local police, backed by reinforcements, broke up the demonstration peacefully. Six unionists allegedly involved in the incident were later summoned to appear in the Federal Court, in Sydney later'this

week, charged with a secondary boycott under a section of Australia's Trade Practices Act. The New Zealand union got in touch with its Australian counterpart yesterday to check on the incidents at the wee'.-end and the union’s national management: committee issued the following statement after a meeting in Christchurch. “We fully .endorse the action taken by pur fellow workers at the Portland works in defence of their jobs against the threat, of. further exports of live sheep from Australia. We also offer all possible sup- ; port to them ,in their struggle, including countervailing action.

against Borthwicks in New Zealand.” The union's secretary (Mr A. J. Kennedy) said that the message of support was sent to the Australian union and the Victorian state union, and Borthwicks had been’ advised of the decision. Although the meat. export season has finished and the seasonal workers paid off, some chains are killing mainly bobby calves and stock for the domestic market. Mr Kennedy said the action would be taken if the prosecutions went ahead. Meatworkers, in Portland s will meet this week to discuss possible action in ' support of six colleagues who are to appear in court.