FACTORIES IDLE

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4803, 28 June 1939, Page 5

FACTORIES IDLE

CHEMICAL COMPANIES. STRIKE CONTINUING. After holding brief meetings at the chemical works at Otahuhu, Westfield and Te Papapa yesterday, 400 employees, who went on strike on Monday, dispersed and the works remained idle throughout the day. By 9.30 a.m. the works were practically deserted, only a few staff hands being found at work. At Otahuhu and Westfield where building operations are in progress there was a certain amount of activity as the employers, artisans and labourers are not affected in the dispute.

The acid plants at the three works have been reduced in operations as the shift workers who operate them ceased work at eight o’clock in the morning. This was in accordance with a virtual ultimatum served by the employees when they declared a strike on Monday afternoon. The management anticipate no trouble in keeping those vital plants in working capacity. An official at one of the companies stated that union representatives had said there would be no objections raised if clerical and other workers were employed in maintaining these plants. Eventualities arising from that course would be the concern of other unions to which the employees belonged.