FREEZING COMPANY WORKERS’ DEMAND

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3491, 29 October 1926, Page 8

FREEZING COMPANY WORKERS’ DEMAND

ATTITUDE OF EMPLOYERS. [Per Press Association.] HASTINGS, Oct. 2S. When interviewed this morning regarding their attitude to the unionist butchers, who in the event, of I lies threatened hold-up occurring may be prepared to start killing on Monday in spite of orders to the contrary from their union, the managers of three local works stated that their companies have no intimation from the union that the men do not intend to commence work although it is common knowledge that as the result of a meeting they have determined not to commence. If this is so, then the companies desire to make it emphatically clear that the resulting loss and trouble are in no sense of their making. There is a contract partly completed and which the men have already observed for two years, and it was agreed that this contract should remain in force until next June.

It is suggested that the men now propose to break it. They requested that the contract be set aside and that they get a 10 per cent, increase in wages. The Freezing Works Association was unable to consent and that decision was endorsed by the local companies for these reasons;—

(1) While always willing to give the utmost consideration to the legitimate grievances of the men it is agreed that in this case there is a contract and it should be kept. (2) Since the slump there has never been a more inopportune time as far as the producers are concerned to make a demand for increased wages. Last year the farmers faced wretchedly bad markets and the Hawke’s Bay drought caused them losses of many scores of thousands of pounds. To-day they are confronted still with bad markets and another drought which promises to make this season even more disastrous than the last. It is safe to say that the producers generally must be prepared to make ends meet with probably 50 per cent, less income than they had two years ago. Yet they do not suggest that the freezing workers’ income which they have to find should be reduced by one penny.

As to the equity of it the freezing companies offer no opinion, but neither do they suggest any reduction. They know there is the men’s point of view to be taken into account and that in these times the men as well as the farmers have.their difficulties, but they do not agree that in the circumstances the slightest justification can be found for an increase and they stand by the decision of the association.

Every man's place will be open for him next Monday. If the men decide not to work, that is their business, but if a decision is forced upon thorn, then, much as they will regret It, the companies will be compelled to make other arrangements. In such case the companies will most decidedly extend every consideration in their power to those who arc prepared to commence at the award rates.