$20M of products threatened

Press, 12 July 1988, Page 1

$20M of products threatened

AU workers at the Burnside and Islington freezing works will meet today to decide whether to go on strike at the sites, paralysing the movement of more than $2O miUion of meat products. Redundancy talks for the workers broke down yesterday. Meetings for the 11 site unions involved would be held during the morning. The national secretary of the New Zealand Meat Workers’ Union, Mr Jack Scott, said the company had made an unacceptable offer. The managing director of Waitaki International, Mr Athol Hut-

ton, confirmed an offer had been made and rejected. “Whether there are further talks depends on the union’s attitude. “We will be trying to ensure meat (at the sites) is protected,” he said. He said the company had other options for getting meat out of the sites but refused to name them. Mr Scott said Islington had about 320,000 “carcase equivalents” stored while Burnside had 280,000, as well as several hundred bales of wool, tonnes of tallow and pelts.

“There would be in excess of $2O million worth of meat on the sites,” he said. “We know the score.” Mr Scott accused the company of using tactics to “starve women and children.” The unions would consult with, the Council of Trade Unions and look at further support for the workers’ actions. "If Mr Pat Goodman (the new chairman of Waitaki International) is good to his word about improving the industrial relations of the company then he should (ensure negotiations continue for the dismissed

workers) He said yesterday’s offer made no allowance for the lack of notice for workers, and no payment for sick leave. The company has offered four weeks for the first year and two weeks for each following year up to 28 years service, while the combined unions have sought eight weeks pay for the first year and two weeks for subsequent years at peak season average earning rates. Islington workers are due to finish on July 15 but some are expected to continue until the end of August.