Islington works men look for full-time work

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 6

Islington works men look for full-time work

Sixty-nine Islington freezing workers have registered with the Labour Department in Christchurch and declared that they are available to be referred for full-time work. Two hundred and sixty Islington freezing workers have not worked at the plant since October 15 in a dispute about the cancellation by the company of incentive agreements.

The registration by the workers is an indication that they do not see an.v hope of an early return to work. The dispute is also holding up national talks on the introduction of new technology in freezing works. A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department said yesterday that the workers could face a stand-down period of up to 14 days from the date of registration. It is not clear yet whether they will be eligible for unemployment benefit if the Labour Department has not found work for them.

The Hornby area welfare officer for the« Social Welfare Department is collecting information on the dispute from the Meat Workers' Union and Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating. A report will then be sent

to the Social Security Commission in Wellington, which will decide whether the workers are voluntarily unemployed. If the commission decides that they are on strike, it may decide that they are ineligible for the benefit. From January 1. seasonal workers may face even longer stand-down periods than the present maximum of 14 days. Legislation was passed this year which will provide for’ a stand-down period of up to four weeks, depending on the average earnings in the preceding 12 months.