Big changes expected for meat works staff

Press, 15 April 1986, Page 1

Big changes expected for meat works staff

By

NIGEL MALTHUS

Big changes in working conditions in New Zealand’s meat works are foreshadowed by a likely settlement today of the meat workers’ award.

One of the pre-condi-tions for the conciliation talks, which began last week, and resumed in Christchurch yesterday, was that long-awaited provisions for shift work and the introduction of new technology be included on the agenda. These are matters which have been allowed to lie on the table in successive award rounds

because of a union reluc-

tance to accept changes it saw as potentially damaging to manning levels and working conditions. However, there were indications yesterday of considerable progress in those areas.

The executive director of the Meat Industry Association, Mr Peter Blomfield, said last evening that agreements on shift work and new technology were "fairly

close.” Mr Blomfield was confident of a settlement today. The advocate for the Meat Workers’ Union, Mr A. J. Kennedy, said there was a “bit of difference" between the parties but he was hopeful they could bridge the gap today. The outstanding matters were too complex to comment on specifically, he said.

A big question still hangs over the intentions of the Auckland-based Freezing Workers’ Union, which rejected the $35 a week pay deal which preceded the present talks, indicating it would hold

out for more. The union’s president, Mr Frank Barnard, who is participating in the talks, dissociated himself last evening from a comment by the union’s assistant

secretary that it would not sign a deal based on $35 a week. Mr Barnard said that it was not up to him or the secretary, Mr Ross Evans, to decide. The northern union’s position would be decided at a meeting of the executive in Auckland tomorrow. “I do not know yet if we will be seeking a higher settlement,” he said. Conciliation talks also resumed yesterday for the freezing works clerical workers’ award. The clerical workers had threatened to strike last week after rejecting a $25 a week pay offer, but agreed to return to con-

ciliation on the basis of a revised offer put to them yesterday. Both sets of talks will continue today before the same conciliator, Mr Len Fortune.