1,400 STOP AT WESTFIELD

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1942, Page 5

1,400 STOP AT WESTFIELD

450 at Southdown ‘ Give

Support

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 16.

The dispute- at the Westfield works of R. and W. Hellaby, Limited, assumed a more serious aspect to-day, when about 1400 employees of the Westfield Freezing Company Limited, decided to cease work in support of the 350 of Hellaby’s men who have been idle since Thursday. This action followed a secret ballot. The voting in the ballot was about 900 in favour of supporting the Hellaby workers, and approximately 200 against. At a lunch-hour meeting of 400 hands employed at th.e Southdown works of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company Limited, who are also" members of the same union as the workers at Hellaby’s and Westfield, it was decided to advise the management that they would not handle any of the boned meat held for transport to Hellaby’s cannery. The men at the Southdown works continued, as usual, throughout the Any- . . . In accordance with their decision on Friday, the Hellaby workers neld a general meeting in the Trades Hall, Auckland, lat 9 a.m. to-day, and reviewed the issues in dispute. At previous meetings these men had decided not to resume work until tne Auckland Freezing Workers’ Union, of which they are members, was recognised as the sole union at their place of employment. That decision was reached after the management at Hellaby’s works had refusea union delegates permission to approach the women in the cannery department.

MEETING IN AUCKLAND.

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 16.

a meeting of men in connection with the freezing workers’ strike was held at the Trades’ Hall to-day. The secretary (Mr. Sill), said later that no settlement was reached. A further meeting will be held on Wednesday next. He said that meetings were being held at other works to discuss the matter. A Company official said that .over 100 men,, some skilled, had come from various parts of the country as an act of loyalty, and were carrying on operations in the cannery. Thev had ample supplies for the next few days’ output, and a daily output of army meat was now assured.