Wool scour staff face suspension

Press, 27 January 1988, Page 6

Wool scour staff face suspension

Industrial reporter

Wool scour workers who continued with their load-out ban were likely to be suspended, said the employers’ advocate, Mr Neil McPhail, yesterday.

Wool scour workers, who are covered by the Meat Workers’ Union, imposed a load-out ban from Sunday night in support of award claims. Further suspensions would be made as work ran out. Mr Jack Scott, the national secretary of the Meat Workers’ Union, said there was no reason for workers to be suspended. He said he did not know of any suspensions. If there were suspensions he would call a

meeting of workers and advocate a national strike at wool scours. Such a move would also halt meat works whose wool was processed at nearby scours. The union seeks a “pass-on” clause in the award, which would bring into the award aboveaward rates now being paid under in-house agreements. The union is also seeking a 15 per cent wage rise; employers have offered 7 per cent.

Mr Scott said there would be no talks until the above-award rates were included in the award document. Mr Scott said the union was offering employers who said they would have problems paying the rates the chance to have their books checked by union accountants. He said if the accountants agreed that employers could not manage the pay rates, the rates paid by those companies could be negotiated.