DEADLOCK CONTINUES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1937, Page 7

DEADLOCK CONTINUES

CHEMICAL WORKERS’ STRIKE

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND, March 12.

The deadlock in the wages dispute between the workers and managements of the chemical manure works at Westfield, Otahuhu, and Te Papapa, arising from a breakdown in negotiations in Conciliation Council on Wednesday night, resulted in the three works again being idle to-day. In accordance with the decision of the mass meeting on Thursday morning the 300 men involved reported at their respective works to-day in the hope that some ■ settlement would be effected. Union officials advised the men that the employers had made no further offer, and after brief meetings the workers dispersed without starting work. '■ At the Otahuhu 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 fertiliser industry and 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 wages, which are paid on Fridays. The men’s attitude was more clearly defined to-day when they stated they intended to abstain from working until their wages demands were conceded. Several men declared that the statement issued by the employers did not accurately portray the position on wages:

Hopes were expressed by both sides that a settlement would be effected to enable work to be resumed on Monday.

FREEZING WORKS AGREEMENT.

AUCKLAND, March 12

Because, a member of their union was allegedly discharged on Thursday, more than 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 greatei' 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 men resumed work 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 work will continue 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 two non-unionists on Thursday, and one to-day, but this the company denied. Only men in the freezing chambers 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 railways waggons on the company’s siding leading to the works.

TRADE UNIONS CONFERENCE WELLINGTON, March 12. At the request of the Alliance of Labour and the Trades and Labour Council Federation, the Minister for Health and Education (Hon P. Fraser) has agreed to call a conference of trade unions and other* organisations of employees for the forming of a national

industrial organisation. The conferJence has been called for April 14, and jit will be held in the Trades Hall, i Wellington. The Minister will open the conference, for which invitations will be issued soon. ' WELLINGTON, March 12. A misunderstanding seems to have arisen over the proposed Trade Union Congress, which is to be held at Wellington next month, in place of the two conferences previously arranged. It is officially pointed out that the i statement published this evening was I only partly correct. The projected I conference will be called by members j | of the trade union organisations conj' cerned, and Hon. Peter Fraser, who , will be Acting-Prime Minister during s the absence of Hon. M. J. Savage, . j when the conference is held, has agreed to attend and open the conference.