Dispute over cold pay

Press, 20 November 1982, Page 7

Dispute over cold pay

The criteria for setting special pay rates for working in cold temperatures are hopelessly inadequate and out of touch with the changed conditions in the freezing industry, the Arbitration Court heard in Christchurch yesterday. The Court was hearing evidence related to a claim by fitters employed at the Canterbury ’ Frozen Meat Company’s Canterbury Freezing Works for extra pay for periods in which they are required to work in freezing chambers. They seek 25 per cent above the ordinary award rate for working in temperatures between —14.4 degrees and —2O degrees, and 50 per cent above the ordinary rate for temperatures between —20.1 degrees and —34 degrees. The fitters’ case was. taken up by the Engineers’ Union, represented by Miss B. A. Buckett; Miss A. K. Knowles appeared for the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company. Miss Buckett said that modern freezer requirements had meant a rapid decline in the temperatures used in the industry. The current criteria for determining “cold” working conditions were based on a 1946 benchmark temperature of —l.l degrees which, she said, was no longer rele-

vant. She said that the matter before the Court had been filed as a dispute of interest with regular monotony, but the employers had refused to accede to the claim in conciliation. This had resulted in a number of "special payments” being made as “inhouse” arrangements elsewhere. ■ • Miss Buckett argued that the conditions under which the work was carried out were the same as those for which others in the industry were being paid extra. Miss Knowles said that the claim should not be considered in isolation from the rest of the country or from other employees covered by different awards in the freezing industry. Freezing workers, electricians, carpenters and engineers were all expected to work in freezing chambers and other “cold” areas, yet no extra payments of the type claimed were made to any other groups at the Canterbury Freezing Works. She said that engineers employed at the Canterbury Freezing Works were already paid above-award rates. The Court, which deferred a decision on whether it had the jurisdiction to consider the claim, reserved its decision.; -