Planned strike may hit three works

Press, 26 November 1987, Page 3

Planned strike may hit three works

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

WELL, industrial reporter A strike planned by the Stationary Engine Drivers’ Union next week at the Stevens NCF Kaiapoi freezing works would also shut down the company’s Ashley Meats and Sockburn plants. The South Island advocate for the union, Mr Norman Dewes, said that the action could start from midnight on Sunday and last until Thursday morning.

He said notice had been served correctly on the company over the action.

The action is over the stationary drivers’ award negotiations, which have broken down. The union has been chasing an 11 per cent wage rise —

down from an initial 15 per cent — while meat industry employers have made no offer.

Negotiations between the union, the Meat Industry Association and the company are continuing in an effort to avert the strike.

The union has four members at the Kaiapoi plant. Talks have been set down for early December when the groups will discuss a proposal by the Meat Industry Association for the coverage of tradesmen and women at New Zealand’s freezing works.

Mr Dewes said he believed that the plan was to bring union stationary engine drivers, electrical workers, plumbers and

gasfitters, builders, painter?, engineers and boilermakers at the sites under one document.

Stationary Engine Drivers’ Union members are at present covered by two documents, the national award and the Freezing Industry Trade Workers Agreement.

Mr Dewes said that the new legislation, the Labour Relations Act, was to blame for the union action.

Action by engine drivers’ union members at J. Wattie Canneries in Hornby had been called off after employers had made an offer to the union. He said that the action was suspended pending further talks with the company.