Award rates at works

Press, 20 January 1984, Page 5

Award rates at works

PA Auckland The 120 freezing workers engaged at R. and W. Hellaby’s Shortland works are getting lower pay than before they were made redundant but they are on award wages, the company said yesterday. The company made 415 redundant 15 months ago when it closed three chains but has re-enaged 120 on a modified chain.

The re-engaged men were on award rates and could not earn as much as they previously did when the plant paid piece-rate bonuses, said a company spokesman, Mr Owen Cook. “We cannot do that sort of production again because we have only 75 per cent of one chain rather than three chains.”

The Auckland Freezing Workers’ Union assistant

secretary, Mr Ross Evans, said the re-engaged men did not have the same incentive scheme again and were on award wages.

Mr Cook said the staff were only working for a few hours yesterday because the modified chain was being tested.

“We will not ask the Ministry of Agriculture to inspect the plant for an export licence until next week when we have sorted out any problems.”

Meanwhile, a settlement seems near for the longrunning dispute at the Horotiu freezing works lamb room.

The 46 freezing workers have been off since early November because of the dispute over production levels.