Boilermen will try again today

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 4

Boilermen will try again today

PA Auckland Another step in a campaign to win improved relativities for boilermen will be taken today by the Stationary Engine Drivers’ Union when it meets officials of the Chelsea Sugar Refinery. Already this week the claim has caused industrial disruption at two Auckland factories and there could be similar strife at the sugar plant if the talks fail. A margarine producing plant. Abels, Ltd, rejected the claim on Monday and was forced to shut -down after its five operators went on strike in protest. Henderson and Pollard, Ltd, a timber company, had to cut some production because its four boiler operators struck after the company turned down the claim at talks on Tuesday. The secretary of the union. Mr George Hogarth, said last evening that he would put the claim forward at the Chelsea talks.

He hoped the company

would see reason in the claim. However, if the talks did break down then it would be up to the operators at the plant to decide whether to strike.

The 200 employees at Abels were “filling in time" with work that had been found for them, said the company’s managing director, Mr Stuart Abel. He said there would be enough work to last until the end of the week and the company was not, at this stage, thinking of suspending any workers.

Companies employing members of the boilermen’s union will meet Auckland Employers' Association officials tomorrow to discuss the dispute.