Meat industry

Press, 12 July 1988, Page 12

Meat industry

Sir, —I note with amazement the effrontery of the Meat Workers’ Union spokesman in not only disclaiming responsibility for the current industry debacle but in lashing out at management and poor marketing. That gang of four, the meat worker, watersider, storeman/ packer and seaman, is caught squarely in the spotlight on this one. It has one last chance to save its face, credibility and jobs. The meat workers’ redundancy pay should finance them into a fair-sized freezing works. Let us see them set up their own meat works and show us all how it should be done. — Yours, etc., PETER LYNN. July 5, 1988.

Sir,—The M.P. for Yaldhurst, Mrs Margaret Austin (July 5), advises the redundant freezing workers to learn new skills, rethink their present positions and seek new jobs. Maybe it is good advice to give to skilled workers. My advice to her is to practise what she preaches because there is no doubt in my mind that the policies that she and her party hold to are one of the main causes of most of the present redundancies in her area and throughout New Zealand. — Yours, etc., ALEC McLEAN. July 5, 1988.

Sir,—My heart goes out to those freezing workers at Islington and other works destined to be closed. Apparently, such works have been operating at a loss for some time but, finally, the enormous cost of closing has made economic sense. This, surely, shows the extent of the meat industry’s problems. Fortex wants a third shift which would create 60 jobs and increase its viability. Mr Jack Scott, the national secretary of the Meat Workers’ Union, shows an incredible grasp of the situation when he says "no” to this. — Yours, etc., J. A. D. DAVISON. July 6, 1988.