FREEZING WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 15, 18 July 1923, Page 6

FREEZING WORKS

EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS DIFFER,

DISPUTE BEFORE CONCILIATION COMMISSIONER.

A dispute between the Wellington Meat Export and others, and the workers engaged in the meat industry, camo. before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton) 'this morning. - The employers werethe.applicants, and were represented by Mr. F. V. Sanderson (agent), and Messrs. H. G. Warren (Hastings), J-. Milne (Wellington), and It. Dicksori (Christchurchj. - For the union the assessors were, Messrs. S. A Jarrett (Castlecliffe), A. Baker, and A M'Leod (Wellington). . Opening the proceedings Mr. Sanderson said the wages were the same as.in the last award. Any alterations in the conditions had been made with a vie«to readjustments and "not' with a view to gaining, anything from the workers. The award was very involved; aim a meant heavy and . long work to' go through it clause by clause. Mr. M'Leod asked whether . the employers to-day took up. the same attitude as tliey did in conference last \vee,K. Last week they agreed to the old award intact. .-

Mr. Sanderson interjected and objected to this. ' He 'said the conference proceedings were closed, and the offer had been made without prejudice to further proceedings. ; '-

Mr. M'Leod said he would go no further in the matter, but he-would ask if the companies were prepared to give any concessions on • the old award, especially in the matter of rates of pay. Mr. Jarrett said they did not mind some rearrangements on' the award but would not agree to give away anything they had gained in hard fighting. The conditions ruling were stated by Mr.' M'Leod to be such that the people could not live under them. There was a want of continuity in employment, and the wages were not sufficient to-enable them to' live decently. The wages in Wellington last season were 2£ per cent, under those in the. South Island, as the South Island "employers did not take advantage of the last cut. If they could afford, in the South, not to make the reduction the union considered that the North Island companies should be able" to reinstate, the wages allowed when the last award was made and before the last cut. The North Island workers had been reasonable and- fair and:had played the game with the employers;'and had then suffered a reduction of>2£'per cent, whereas' there had been no reduction at all in the South Island where there had been so much trouble.

The Commissioner:"Yes, most of the trouble was:in' the South'lsland.l"..

Mr. M'Leod :• "There was - only ono small hitch, here,-and. that "was; riot bad seeing that Wellington is..a.fairly "large district." ■_ . . . ; ' . :. '■'••

The Council then decided.that.it would facilitate discussion if they went into committee on the wages question in partcular_and this was done; ' The claims ask for an eight-hour day from 7.30 a.m. till 5 p.m.,- with;-; four hours on Saturdays. - The - ..counter claims stipulate the same hours; but the start is provided to be hpt'earlier than 8 a.m. The wages claim of slaughtering is £1/ 15s per 100 sheep and £1 12s 6d per 100 lambs, the rate for. show sheep or 'lambs being. £2, for unshorn sheep after 31sfc December,.jate,. and, a half, and for rams and . stags doublo rates, for cattle 2s 3d per head, for bulls 2s 9d per head, etc. The hourly fates claimed for assistants "ranged. from'- Is 9d per hour.to 2s. In other -departments the wages claims ranged;from Is 3£d per hour to 2s 2d/.per»hour. . , On_ the other .side, the : union claimed the' following rates':—Sheep.and lambs, £2 2s per 100, show sheep £2 10s; unshorn sheep and rams £2 10s; cattle, 2s 9d per head, bulls and stags, rate and a half; assistants, from' 2s; 3d to 2s 6d per hour; other departments from 2s 3d to 2s 7d., '.-•■ . ..- .. .. ....

(Proceeding.)