Cement workers back

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 5

Cement workers back

PA Auckland Workers employed by the two Auckland cement manufacturers will return to work today, ending two weeks of industrial action which had threatened to paralyse the building industry. Neither union nor employer officials would give the terms of settlement. aThe president of the Auckland Trades Council, Mr G. H. Andersen, said that the workers were returning to work and he was

happy with the deal struck with the companies, N.Z. Cement Holdings, Ltd, and Wilsons N.Z. Portland Cement, ltd. An advocate with the Auckland Employers’ Association, Mr Paul Loff, said one condition of the agreement was that no publicity would be given in respect to the terms. It is believed the settlement included an agreement by the companies to renegotiate house agreements after the wage freeze.

The cement workers — drivers, stores workers and engineers — struck earlier in the month in support of the union campaign for a wage increase of $2O a week. Last week their action forced all seven Auckland ready-mix concrete firms to close and suspend 70 employees. The Trades Council held a special executive meeting yesterday to discuss the action and later met the workers and company representatives.