Works strike will not stop domestic meat

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 3

Works strike will not stop domestic meat

By

GLENN HASZARD

industrial reporter

Domestic meat supplies will not be stopped by the strike which began in export freezing works throughout New Zealand at midnight last night Wage agreements have been made between the Meat Workers’ Union and several South Island abattoirs, at Timaru, Malvern, Riveriands (Blenheim), Koklri (West Coast), and Motueka.

The secretary of the Canterbury, West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough branch of the Meat Workers’ Union, Mr Tiny Kirk, said that the agreements were satisfactory to the union members and to the union, but he declined to say what percentage change was involved. Mr Kirk emphasised that those. plants that were killing would not be killing for clients who would otherwise go to the export works and their normal tallies would not be exceeded. A spokesman for the Meat Industry Association said that the settlement of

abattoir agreements was

not relevant to the dispute over the national award for meat workers and the agreement for meat industry tradesmen. The abattoir companies would negotiate what they felt the marketplace could afford, he said.

The Sockburn works, owned by C. S. Stevens, will not be killing today.

The works has an export licence, but also kills for the Christchurch market Several other abattoirs which supply meat to Christchurch will continue to function. The Ashburton abattoir is still killing, but Mr Kirk said that three days notice of industrial action had been given to management. The notice expires at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

The only export works still killing yesterday was the Pareora works of Canterbury Frozen Meat, at Oamaru. The assistant manager (processing) of C.F.M., Mr Dick Allan, said that workers would complete cleaning up at Pareora last evening and there would be no work there today. Other works stopped killing on Monday and finished processing work yesterday. Freezing industry clerical workers are still at work, but industry sources said that some companies may have to consider suspending some of them if work runs out.

Meat Inspectors would be expected to report for duty as usual and to inspect any carcases, whether killed by union members or not, said Dr Barry Marshall, acting assistant director (technical services), the Ministry of Agriculture, Wellington.

If there is no work for them meat inspectors are sent home and still paid. The president of Federated Farmers, Mr Peter Elworthy, said in a speech in Christchurch yesterday that the stoppage would seriously jeopardise the sick meat industry. But fanners, hard-pressed to the point of despair and desperation, would not buckle under pressure.

"The leaders of the union, nominated by the long-term elitist wage earner in the industry, and protected by monopolistic union structure, are now busy trying to put the last nails in the coffin of a former proud industry,” said Mr Elworthy.

He asserted that most rank-and-file workers preferred to continue work at present wages rather than put their jobs at risk.