Rixen occupation ends

Press, 5 December 1981, Page 1

Rixen occupation ends

PA Wellington The 14-week occupation of the Rixen clothing factory in Levin by laid-off workers has ended, but the dispute over redundancy payments will continue. The premises were handed back to the management yesterday afternoon, said the

president of the Federation of Labour (Mr W. J. Knox). “It is getting towards Christmas; the workers should be able to have a happier Christmas than they would get sitting in," said Mr Knox. Every step, he said, would be taken to reach a redundancy agreement with the

management at Rixen. “but the dispute still goes on." The occupation of the factory had brought recognition of the need for a redundancy agreement for workers in the clothing industry, said Mr Knox. A union delegate. Mr N. McFarlane, said that the 27 women and two men who

had Occupied the factory were initially "very disappointed" when the union and the federation proposed ending the action. -- ' Donations from' other unions paid weekly to the Rixen workers would now stop said Mr McFarlane, and the workers would be out looking for jobs.