Wool stores strike likely after talks fail

Press, 6 October 1988, Page 6

Wool stores strike likely after talks fail

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL,

industrial reporter Wool and grain store workers may vote to strike after their award talks broke down in Christchurch this week. The unions’ advocate for the composite New Zealand Wool, Grain, Hide and Manure Store Workers’ Award, Mr Barry Brown, said employers were seeking to extend hours of work, extend shifts, and eliminate payments. Employers had offered a 1.6 per cent wage rise, about $5 a week, while the combined unions were claiming 7 per cent. Workers in Canterbury are covered by the Labourers’ Union, and in other areas by the Store

Workers’ union and the Distribution Workers’ Union. About 500 workers in Canterbury would be likely involved in action, and 200 to 3300 in Otago. They would meet next week to discuss the breakdown. Strike action would probably affect wool sales and important seed contracts for overseas markets, said Mr Brown. Employers wanted to extend hours of work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours now worked are 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The parties discussed hours of work. The combined unions made a proposal which was not accepted, Mr Brown said. That had been to allow groups of workers to start

earlier and finish later. Extended hours would reduce workers’ overtime pay 10 to 12 per cent along with shiftwork changes, said Mr Brown. Even if the combined unions accepted the 1.6 per cent rise, the unions also had to accept the other counter-claims made by employers, he said. The award at present covered shift provisions for grain stores, but employers sought to extend them to wool and other stores. The industry had also reduced casual and seasonal labour in favour of permanent staff, and numbers had been cut 60 per cent. “Now they are expected to take a 10 per cent cut in wages,” said Mr Brown.