Oringi dispute deadlocked

Press, 11 March 1983, Page 3

Oringi dispute deadlocked

PA Dannevirke Oringi freezing workers yesterday rejected a mutton slaughter agreement profferred by the Pacific Freezing Company and voted to remain on strike, continuing work stoppages which began in early? February. More than 300 workers who met at the Dannevirke Town Hall yesterday mprning overwhelmingly supported a motion “rejecting the company’s offer made yesterday (Wednesday) and demanding that they honour their work and sign the mutton slaughterboard agreement in order to allow work and further negotiations to continue.” The three-hour meeting was addressed by the national secretary of the Meat Workers’ Union. Mr A.

J. Kennedy, and by two Meat Workers’ representatives, Messrs Roger Middlemass and Roy Potroz. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Kennedy said that Pacific Freezing had “lost all credibility” in the issue, and that workers would rather lose their jobs than return to work for the company in present circumstances. Workers’ confidence in the company had already been shattered, he said. Its final chance to regain the workers would be to sign the original mutton slaughterboard agreement — the article at the centre of the dispute. Negotiations began on February 2 when the union imposed a load-out ban to back its demand that. the agreement be signed.