Picket bans beer

Press, 30 May 1981, Page 1

Picket bans beer

A picket line and the Canterbury Trades Council are giving support to Miss Carrie Crack, dismissed last Tuesday evening from her post as house manager of the Rangiora Returned Services Association.

A beer tanker yesterday was three times turned back by the picket line, as was a truck attempting to deliver industrial gas bottles.

Mr A. Anderson, the senior industrial officer and the Canterbury Hotel Workers' Union, and the president of the club, Mr J. K. Henderson, both said that the dispute was at a stalemate. Mr Anderson said that the union had held three meetings with various club officers. At each meeting they had reiterated that they would not reinstate Miss Crack. The committee’s decision to dismiss Miss Crack, it is said, could only be overruled by a general meeting of club members which could take up to 21 days to arrange. The union has been given no reason for her dismissal. Mr Henderson asserted that the picket was illegal. He said that the five picketers had effectively terminated their employment with the club by their actions in support of Miss Crack. The union is prepared to picket for 21 days and will maintain its picket during the long week-end’to ensure that no deliveries are made to the club. They are not preventing customers from entering the premises. Mr R. Lingard, an organiser of the union and.an executive member of the Trades Council, said the council would continue its support and ensure that no goods or services moved in or out of the club.

The picket ended at 5 p.m. last evening, but will be back at 10 a m. today.