Gear closing ‘not accepted’ by union

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 1

Gear closing ‘not accepted’ by union

PA Wellington Branches of the Meat Workers’ Union had offered to take industrial action to force the reopening of the Gear Meat plant, said the West Coast branch’s secretary, Mr Ken Findlay, last evening. The union would not accept Friday’s confirmation of the Gear board’s decision to, close the Petone works, he said.

Telegrams of support had

come from meat workers throughout New Zealand, Mr Findlay said. “Some of the more important branches said they were prenareo to take industrial action.” The union’s national management committee will meet in Christchurch on Wednesday to discuss the closing.

“We will call on maximum support,” Mr Findlay said. There was no plan to hand the matter over to the Federation of Labour. <

A Rangitikei Federated Farmers spokesman said yesterday that Mr Findlay’s stubborn stance was the one most important factor in the closing of Gear Meat.

Union officials should remember that well, said the branch’s meat and wool chairman, Mr Graeme Gordon. Other factors were E.E.C. requirements and .hygiene standards.