Patea works ban

Press, 7 September 1982, Page 6

Patea works ban

PA New Plymouth A load-out ban, described by the general manager, Mr Alan Parker, as futile, was imposed at the Patea freez-. ing works yesterday in support of redundancy claims.

Mr Parker said that the refusal to load out meat, offal and general produce was “utterly pointless." The redundancy deal offered to the works combined unions was the maximum allowed under Government regulations. The union's fight was with the Government, not with the company which could not legally offer more, said Mr Parker. At this stage, the company would “sit out” the bant It was not holding up other departments, and dismantling of the plant would begin as planned later this week, he said. About 800 tonnes of frozen products remained in the works. Mr Parker said that the yard gang had refused to load out general produce and was now also on strike.

About 70 men were involved.

The secretary of the Patea sub-branch of the Meat Workers’ Union, Mr Tony Raimona, said the union had got nowhere with the redundancy talks with the company last week. The ban was one means of provoking some reaction from the company on the

issue. He believed W. and R. Fletcher, Ltd, was stalling in the hope that the • works would be bought and that no redundancy pay would be paid. Mr Raimona said that the union was prepared to picket in support of the redundancy claim and was geared up to do it.