Meat union secretary ‘wrong’

Press, 20 March 1982, Page 1

Meat union secretary ‘wrong’

PA Dannevirke The Pacific Freezing Company's managing-director, Mr Graeme Lowe, has denied assertions that he torpedoed an agreement with the New Zealand Meat Workers' Union aimed at settling the Oringi freezing works dispute. He dismissed outright last evening on assertion by the union's national secretary. Mr A. J. Kennedy, that lie had welched on a deal made with the union less than 24 hours earlier. “Mr Kennedy is wrong." he said. Mr Lowe said the breakdown was the result of a spontaneous action by workers still incensed over being forced to join the West Coast branch of the union and angry at seeing other workers who struck on Wednesday evening getting paid for two days they did not work. He denied attempting to influence workers yesterday morning to dispute the

agreement he reached with the union on Thursday evening. Mr Kennedy said earlier yesterday afternoon that the Oringi dispute was "back to square one" after Mr Lowe addressed a meeting of workers yesterday morning, before a meeting called by the West Coast branch president of the union. Mr Roger Middlemass. Mr Lowe said he was disappointed that neither Mr Kennedy nor Mr Middlemass would communicate with him when they saw a problem arising out of yesterday’s meeting. Mr Lowe said he met staff to explain that they had to keep to the agreement. “We have not varied from that agreement, nor have we influenced workers,” he said. Workers who refused to join the branch had been offered work on Thursday and yesterday and had turned'up. They were paid. “I hope we can get back to work on Monday," said Mr Lowe.