MEAT STRIKE ENDS

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1942, Page 5

MEAT STRIKE ENDS

RESUMPTION TO-DAY

Volunteer Work Yesterday

[Per Press Association,] AUCKLAND, March 18,

Two hundred and fifty voluntary workers presented themselves ar Westfield and Southdown works, today, th e Westfield management said, and several departments are operating with skeleton staffs. The response to the appeal for able-bodied men for essential services is regarded as encouraging, and the killing pigs and iambs proceeded, also auxiliary operations such as railing meat into cooling rooms. Voluntary labour was forthcoming from points as far distant as the Bay of Plenty and North Auckland. The majority of the volunteers are farmers. It is thought probable that som e men atmeeting at the Trades Hall during the forenoon would later present themselves at the works.

All classes of • women are among the volunteers. While it was impossible, this morning, to get the cannery into full operation, such work as labelling tins and preparing tins for filling was done. A few head of stock have died in the parched paddocks, but farmers have assisted by feeding hay, and efforts are being made to slaughter the majority of pigs and sheep, although it has not been possible to slaughter the cattle.

Union’s Acceptance

OF FEDERATION PROMISE.

THAT INQUIRY WILL BE HELD,

P.A. AUCKLAND, March 18. The Westfield Freezing Works strikers have agreed to resume work to-morrow, provided that a tribunal be appointed to investigate the dispute. Hon. P. C. Webb, interviewed by telephone from Wellington, said that there was no condition attached to the settlement.

P.A. AUCKLAND, March 18. On an assurance from the Federation of Labour that it would endeavour to have the issues in dispute between the men and the management at the Westfield premises of Ri and W. Hellaby, Ltd., investigated by a tribunal, the 2,300 strikers at various ' establishments of the freezing industry in Auckland are to resume work at eight o’clock to-morrow morning. This move toward a settlement was accepted by the workers at a meeting in the Trades Hall, after protracted negotiations between the Union Executive and officials of the Federation.

The dispute originated in the demands of 350 employees at Hellaby’s premises that the Freezing Workers’ Union, of which they are members, be the sole industrial organisation at the establishment, and that Hellaby’s Cannery Union be deregistered. This action was taken after the Works Management had refused the Union delegates permission to approach the girls employed in cannery with a view to inducing them to join the union. ' Some 2,000 workers at Westfield, Southdown and King’s Wharf ceased work in support of this action.

A mass meeting assembled in the Trades Hall at 9 a.m. to-day. It was adjourned fully an hour later to enable the Union Executive to confer with Federation of Labour officials.

Hopes of a settlement wera fading, and the resumed meeting was on the point of adjourning for the day, when a further report on negotiations with the Federation was received.

While the statement made to the union meeting gave no direct assurance that the Government would agree to the appointment of a tribunal, the workers accepted the Federation’s promise of intervention as an indication that the . Minister of Labour would authorise an inquiry into the issues in dispute.

Hon. P. C. Webb’s Comment

NO COMPROMISE WITH STRIKERS. P.A. WELLINGTON, March 18. v “I made it quite clear that the Government had no intention of compromising with the men on strike,” said the Minister of Labour, Hon. P. C. Webb, referring to an interview which the Federation of Labour had with him to-day, concerning the stoppage of work by the Westfield and Southdown workers.” “The Federation,” added the Minister, “agreed to advise the men to resume work immediately. The men had complied with this advice, and they intended to resume unreservedly.” Mr Webb added that, whatever grievances the men had were to be handed over to the Federation, which, in turn, would make representations to the Government to institute an inquiry into different troubles arising in the industry. The men concerned in the stoppage, he said, had broken their own rules, and had violated every principle of unionism. They had delivered a serious blow to the country’s war effort. These men must realise that the priviliges which they enjoyed carried with them grave responsibilities. In acting as they did, they sacrificed every right which they had enjoyed under the protection of the law, with the result that the Government withdrew that protection. The Minister said that he was, at all times, willing to hear representations, whether of the employers or the workers; and to discuss any questions affecting the industry. If the Federation of Labour approached him to institute an inquiry after the men had returned to work, he would do so. No one regretted more than he the necessity for the action taken, but, when the country was in danger, any hold-up in production must be deprecated. Everyone should be at their post if physically fit to be there.

Legal Action

350 WORKERS TO BE CHARGED.

P.A. AUCKLAND, March 18. Action has been taken by the Department of Labour against approximately three hundred and fifty members of the Freezing Workers’ Union, who are to be charged in Court, to be held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Monday, with being parties to a strike. Summonses have been made, out, calling on the defendants to appear in the 'Town Hall, because the Magistrate’s Court could not accommodate all those charged. The defendants, who are all employees of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., will

face a similar charge to that preferred against the men who appeared before Mr Luxford, S.M., at the end of January. The charge reads that each “was a. party to a strike, in that being in the employ of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., they did, with a number of other workers in the same employment, partially discontinue such employment, contrary to the provisions of the Strike and Lockr Out Emergency Regulations, 1939, and the Emergency Regulation's, 1939. One hundred and twenty-five men who were convicted on a similar charge in January will appear before Mr Luxford on Friday for sentence. At the: hearings, the Magistrate convicted each defendant and ordered him to come up for sentence within twelve months if called on. He pointed, out that there was legal machinery for dealing with industrial disputes that the men should have used. He also warned them that they would only, be called on if they failed to work, properly.” FARMERS’ UNION RESOLUTION. P.A. HASTINGS, March. 18. * Condemnation of the action of the freezing workers and of the cool stqre hands, in Auckland, in striking, was expressed at a meeting this afternoon of the' Hawke’s' Bay Executive of the Farmers’ Union. The Executive resolved that it “would be unanimously behind the Government if it put into action the full powers it possesses, in dealing with those persons who have seen fit to commit this crime against our own men in the field. They, have enjoyed the privileges accruing from the classification of their particular industry, and they have seen fit to desert their posts. The penalty should fit the crime, and, as this has not been the first hold-up, the offenders should be drafted automatically into the military forces for. suitable duties, where they would be subject to military discipline and pay.”