Foodtown strike threatens stores

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 8

Foodtown strike threatens stores

PA Auckland Stocks at Foodtown's 23 supermarkets dwindled yesterday as a strike by 150 workers at the company’s Mangere distribution centre continued.

The joint managing director of Foodtown. Mr Graeme Kelly, said its stores would probably have to close if a settlement were not reached soon.

The secretary of the Northern Butchers and Grocers' Union, Mr Owen Harvey, said company proposals would be put to the workers at a meeting this morning. Meanwhile, more than half the 200 hotels which sell Dominion Breweries draught beer had no tap supplies left yesterday because of a strike at the DB plant at Otahuhu.

DB workers, who walked

off the job on May 25 after a pressure tank exploded, decided yesterday to stay out at least until Monday.

At Glenbrook about 700 men walked off the New Zealand Steel mill extensions site after an argument over an alleged assault on a worker by a foreman. The walkout by carpenters and labourers followed up an incident on Friday. The men are expected back today. A spokesman for New Zealand Steel Development, Ltd, said about 100 workers had had to be suspended yesterday because of the stoppage. At Union Carbide’s Mount Wellington plant a twomonth strike is expected to end today with the return of 133 workers who have accepted a settlement.