Union warns works dispute may spread

Press, 8 November 1986, Page 3

Union warns works dispute may spread

Unions involved in the closing of the Whakatu freezing works have been discussing possible industrial action in freezing works owned by Waitaki International as part of a continuing dispute over a redundancy package for the laid-off workers. More than 1000 Whakatu freezing workers rejected on October 30 a redundancy package which offered much less than they had sought. Their advocate, Mr Tony Neary, warned then that the Whakatu dispute could develop into national ac- . tion unless the offer by the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Meat Company improved. Waitaki International

has a 57 per cent shareholding in the Hawke’s Bay company. On October 26, disruption was threatened at processing plants run by the Waitaki Weddel Crown groups, after the redundancy talks failed.

The unions involved have been negotiating on behalf of 1800 of their members and have calculated that their share of the $2O million Whakatu redundancy pay-out would be $10.5 million, leaving $9.5 million for 360 nonunion staff. The secretary of the Whakatu subbranch of the Meat Workers’ Union, Mr Nick Tichborne, said yesterday that the union’s national

secretary, Mr A. J. Kennedy, and Mr Neary were among delegates discussing possible industrial action; They met yesterday near the Whakatu works.

The general manager of Waitaki International, Mr Joe Ryan, said in Christchurch yesterday that he would be surprised if freezing workers at other Waitaki International plants supported a call for action.

“My understanding is that most other employees round the country who have seen the very substantial redundancy offer made at Whakatu would believe that the unions should be accepting that offer,” he said.