Strike, suspensions close meat works

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 5

Strike, suspensions close meat works

A showdown between freezing industry employers and their tradesmen over pay claims will shut down all 43 freezing plants throughout New Zealand today, reports NZPA. Tradesmen will begin an indefinite strike today in support of a 25 per cent wage claim. In response, all companies would refuse to present stock for slaughter and say they will suspend most of New Zealand’s 25,000 freezing workers from after midnight last night, said the executive director of the Freezing Companies’ Association, Mr Peter Blomfield.

In Canterbury, three freezing companies will be closed, with about 250 tradesmen on strike and about 4000 freezing workers suspended. The tradesmen — including engineers, electricians, painters, carpenters, and stationary engine drivers — were essential for the running of the freezing companies, said the secretary of the Canterbury Engineers’ Union, Mr Bob Todd. As well as repairing and maintaining the plant and equipment, they were responsible for firing the boilers. The freezing workers had been involved in all the discussion about the proposed industrial action and in most cases were sympathetic, said Mr Todd. He did not expect any resolution of the dispute before Wednesday. The secretary of the Canterbury Meat Workers’

Union, Mr Wes Cameron, did not want to comment last evening. Farmers have come out in support of the freezing companies even though for many it will mean eating into an already limited supply of winter feed.

The chairman of North Canterbury Federated Farmers’ meat and wool section, Mr Dick Davison, said that farmers were looking at a reduced income next year. It was not the feed situation that was the most critical but the fact that the freezing industry employees were trying to "squeeze more money out of us, and we Just don r t have any left,” said Mr Davison.

He said he was extremely angry that the companies were considering increasing wage levels when fanners were in some difficulty.