THE SUGAR WORKERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 August 1920, Page 2

THE SUGAR WORKERS

DECLINE TO WORK. "NEW DEVELOPMENTS." (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 27. The Chelsea, sugar factory was ready for the resumption of refining operations to-day, .out the men declined to return to work. A general meeting of the union was held during the afternoon to consider what the union deemed to he fresh developments which had arisen out of the hearing of their case by the Arbitration Court yesterday. A letter from Mr. Dallard, advisory accountant to the Board of Trade, was read, in which he asked the workers to resume operation*:.

A resolution affirming the men's determination not to return to work un!til the five points ;Conjced)ed by ih-:j Board of Trade at the recent conference were embodied in any award the court might make, was carried. These concessions provided for a 44hour week conditionally upon the output being sufficient to meet the company's contract with the Government; also a minimum weekly wage of £4 4s ; seven holidays yearly oh full pay ; overtime at time and a half for three hours and double thereafter; and retrospective pay as from July Ist.

The secretary of ,tlie union states that the position has now reached a critical stage. Re considered that the men were justified in holding out for fair and reasonable conditions, especially as the Government had been prepared to give them these conditions

AULSEBR'OOK'S CLOSING. (Per Pr*'s* Association.) CHRISTCHURH, A'uguTt 30. Ad there is no sugar in the factory and little chance of obtaining any for some time, Aulsebrook and Coy, are gradually, closing down their big confectionery works, and it is expected that by the end of the week nearly four hundred hands will be thrown out of employment. -j