INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 15

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

. REEZING CHAMBER HANDS STOP WORK AN ADJUSTMENT EFFECTED [Pee United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 12. Because a member of tbeir union ,vas allegedly discharged on Thursday over 100 freezing chamber hands employed at the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company’s works on King’s wharf stopped work this morning and remained idle for the greater part of the day. A conference between representatives of the men and the employers was opened at 4 p.m, in the presence of the conciliation commissioner, Mr R. E. Price, and the workers resumed at that hour pending the outcome of the negotiations. An agreement satisfactory to both sides was reached after about two hours’ discussion, with the result that the work will be continued to-morrow as usual. The men stated that they would not start work until the man allegedly discharged was re-engaged. They also claimed that the company had taken on non-unionists —two on Thursday and one to-day—but this the company denied. Only the men in the freezing chamber, were concerned in the dispute, but the stoppage interfered with the work of the Government graders in the grading store. Throughout the day a quantity of dairy produce remained unhandled in railway wagons on the. company’s siding leading to the works. CHEMICAL MANURE WORKERS A WAGES DISPUTE A deadlock in the wages dispute between the workers and management of the chemical manure works at Westfield. Otabuhu, and Te Papapa, arising rrom the breakdown .in the negotiations in the Conciliation Council on Wednesday night, resulted in the three works again being idle to-day. In accordance with the decision of a mass meeting on Thursday morning, the 300 odd men involved reported at, their respective works to-day in the hope that some settlement would, be effected. The union officials advised the men that the employers had made no further offer, aud after brief meetings the workers dispersed without commencing work. At the Otauhuhu works of the Challenge Phosphate Company Ltd., the management offered employment to a number of men on jobs that were not in any way connected with the fertilising industry, and the acceptance of which would in no way react upon the issues in dispute. The offer was not accepted by any of the men.' At the Westfield works the men remained on the premises until nearly midday to receive their weekly pay, which falls on Friday. The men’s attitude was more clearly defined to-day, when they stated that they intended to abstain from woiking until their wage demands were conceded. Several men declared that the statement issued by the employers did not accurately portray the position in regard to wages. Hopes were expressed by both sides that a settlement would be effected to enable work to resumed on Monday.