WESTFIELD FREEZING DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 120, 18 February 1928, Page 10

WESTFIELD FREEZING DISPUTE

WORKERS PRESENTED WITH SUMMONSES BREACHES OF AWARD AND ACT ALLEGED Dominion Special Service. Auckland, February 17. Two hundred and fifty men who returned to work at West, field this morning had barely resumed operations when a police constable presented each of them with two summonses. The men decided last evening to call the dispute off and return to work. The employers gave an undertaking that there would be no victimisation. However, the Labour Department had in the meantime Interested itself in the affair, and it was by its authority that this morning a bombshell was dropped into the camps of employee and employer alike. Each of the men alleged to be concerned in the “go slow,” eventuating after the dispute over the classification of a sheep> last Friday, was served with two summonses, one charging him with a breach of the award in impeding the work of the employer, by preventing work being carried out in the customary manner, and the other alleging a breach of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act by taking part in a strike. Is a “Go Slow” a Strike? The question as to whether a “go slow” is a strike has never yet been decided, and it will be an interesting point, if it comes to the trial on February 28, when cases will be heard. The word “strike” has a wide definition iu the Act. In the dispute the employers stood firm in demanding that, ‘however the dispute was dealt with, normal killing activities must in the meantime continue at the works. It was the institution of an alleged “go slow” policy that resulted in the pay-off. The men have met daily since the dispute occurred, and it was last night that they finally decided to resume work without any stipulations. Statement by agents. The managing agents, in a statement this morning, said that work was resumed under normal conditions, the slaughtermen having agreed _to stand by the terms of award governing the question in dispute. No further action with regard to the particular sheep in question is indicated. It is reported that there is sufficient stock in hand, and in. sight to keep the works busv for some time.