Islington dispute

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 20

Islington dispute

Sir,—As this futile dispute drags on, stories and rumours abound on the “rights and

wrongs.” Consequently, I wonder if’ it is possible for the Meatworkers’ Union either to confirm or to deny the following stories: (1) No secret ballots were held on the payment of the levy because inflammatory rhetoric at mass meetings is more effective than the privacy of the secret ballot. (2) That,, so far — at Belfast, Fairfield and Pareora — three workers have been expelled from the union and so deprived of their livelihood for refusing to pay the levy. (3) That, at one stage, the levies totalled $250,000 a week. (4) That, as the result of mounting discontent, the levy has been reduced from $lO to $6 a week. (5) That in cash, food vouchers, etc., the Islington strikers are now receiving up to $3OO a week each. (6) That, in view of 5 and 6 above, the union is prepared to continue the strike indefinitely.—Yours, etc.. LES BOGREN. December 26, 1982.

[The secretary of the Canterbury. Marlborough. Nelson, and Westland branch of the Meat Workers’ Union, Mr W. R. Cameron, replies: “Les Bogren is correct when he says that stories and rumours abound on the rights and wrongs of the Islington lockout. However, in a situation such as this, the union’s main concern is the protection of the living standards of its membership and on this occasion it was necessary, due to the length of the lockout, - for us to assist in a practical way the unfortunate workers who' were not only denied the opportunity to work for wages by the Waitaki N.Z.

Refrigerating Company, but were also denied the unemployment benefit. The answers to Les Bogren’s questions are as follows: (1) In most cases secret ballots were not held but. under the rules of the union, decisions must be taken by secret ballot if the majority attending the mass meeting requires that a secret ballot be held. (2) The Canterbury branch executive has expelled one member only for refusing to abide by a lawful decision of the union. (3) At no stage have the contributions totalled anywhere near $250,000 a week. (4) There is absolutely no truth in the statement that the individual contributions have been reduced from $lO to $6 per week. (5) The average weekly pay-out to the locked-out Islington workers for the period of the lockout so far would be less than the unemployment benefit. (6) The union is anxious that the lockout cease and is working continuously on behalf of its Islington members, who are facing severe hardship, to get an immediate resumption of work."]