Boilermen’s strike likely to shut works

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 3

Boilermen’s strike likely to shut works

By RICHARD CRESSWELL, Industrial Reporter The Stationary Engine Driver’s Union was set to go on strike at NCF Stevens’ Kaiapoi Meatworks from midnight last night, said the union’s South Island advocate, Mr Norman Dewes, last evening. The Kaiapoi plant had four union members who were taking industrial action, with the support of the Meat Workers,’ and Engineers’ Unions, and the Institute of Power En-

gineers. Mr Dewes said a picket line at the plant would not be needed because the meat workers would not work with non-union labour. The unions would strike until Thursday morning, but Mr Dewes said, it was considering extending the action. A company spokesman, Mr Bryan Ward, said salaried staff might do the jobs usually done by stationary engine union members. * He said the union

should be excluded from future talks because of the strike. Fears that the action would cripple the company’s Ashley Meats and Sockbum plants have been averted, and a plan has been devised to keep them open. The industrial action at the Kaiapoi plant would mean the suspension of 350 meat workers. Mr Ward said the company “would see What this morning brings.”