BUTCHERS' STRIKE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 361, 21 February 1914, Page 5

BUTCHERS' STRIKE

DEADLOCK CONTINUES. [PZB FRRSa ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] Sydney, Feb. 20. Mr. Estell shares the keen disappointment felt on all sides at the masters’ decision not to accept the proposed terms of settlement. All negotiations have ceased and there is no immediate prospect of bringing, the parties together. Mr. Estell still hopes for peace anil will wait a couple of days for suggestions from cither side, but no more. So far he says that the mastersj and men have made applications for a variation of the amended award for working hours. The masters allowed their appeal to lapse. Tbe legal position now appears to be that if the men withdraw theirs an existing award for 49-50 hours according to the class of shop will become operative. The grand council of the employees union declares the hides and skins of sattle slaughtered by the, masters “black.” Over 300 wool and basil workers have ceased work. The opinion is freely expressed that the cold storage and other unions will be involved The military section'of the unionists is talking of a big strike k and a general struggle between Capital and organised Labour. The employers committee met to.day. B.eyond a general justification of their attitude no informatiofi was available. The masters .continued* killing operations and plenty of free labour is available, but there is fio intention of employing it. The depots and several shops were open and the supply appeared equal to the demand.

TROUBLE LIKELY TO EXTEND.

POSITION MOST UNSATIS ' FACTORY.

(Received 21. 9.35 a.m.) Sydney. Feb. 21. The Grand Council of the meat industry has declared the skins ct cattle and sheep killed by the mas ter butchers black, and the result is that 300 tannery employees are rendered idle.'

The engine-drivers and firemen employed in the freezing chamber, at a stop-meeting,'decided to cease work if such action is considered necessary in the interests of unionism.

The cold storage employees resolved that if an attempt was made to handle frozen meat for distribution. that they too would cease work.

Mr. Estill (the Labour Minister) claims that the men’s acceptance of his proposals was tantamount to making an offer to the master butchers. .

The employers absolutely deny that they offered-to compromise with the men on Thursday, and firmly ad here to’their determination that if the men ate to resume work it must be at . the old award rates. The Labour Council has decided to intervene in the dispute owing to the fact that a number of affiliated unions arir affected, or are likely to be affected.

The meetings called for to day are likely to have an important bearing on the position. The whole issue wjll be reviewed by the Food Pro duction .and Distribution Council, which includes fourteen unions,. in eluding the bakers. It is understood that certain advice has been given with regal'd to next week’s bread supply. Amongst other probable developments the ice-carters will refuse tc deliver to the. meat supplying depots, an additional three of which were opened to-day.' The outlook is strike is likely to widely extelid. k