Meat workers propose short week, third share

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 12

Meat workers propose short week, third share

PA Wellington A four-day working week and a one-third share of the benefits from new technology is the price the meat industry must pay in return for union co-operation with changes such as continuously running freezing works, according to a union official, Mr Ken Findlay. Mr Findlay, secretary of the West Coast (North Island) branch of the Meat Workers’ Union, was reacting to a call for greater efficiency in the industry by the deputy chairman of the Meat Board, Mr Norman Mcßae. Mr Mcßae told Southland Federated Farmers there would have to be change in

the industry. It was a question of whether it was planned. Any action would neeo the co-operation of the trade unions and the workforce. Options such as a six-day or seven-day week operation, twilight shifts, doubleshifting the cutting and boning room, mechanical deboning. and double-shifting the chain must be considered. Some works would close, Mr Mcßae said. Mr Findlay said that the union had not set its face against change. “What we expect in exchange for this nebulous ‘cooperation’ is a share of the increased productivity,’’ he said.

"We expect the benefits of technology to be shared on a basis of one-third each for farmers, meat companies, and meat workers. That ratio was endorsed by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, on October 22, 1981." In exchange for union cooperation on shift work, the union required a shorter working week to reduce the number of job losses. "We will be happy to cooperate with the Meat Board when it makes some effort to understand workers in the trade union movement. Then, meaningful dialogue might become possible,” Mr Findlay said.