“STAY-IN” POLICY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 14 January 1937, Page 2

“STAY-IN” POLICY

FREEZING WORKS EMPLOYEES PROTEST AGAINST CONDITIONS AND WAGES “WILL SEE THE DISPUTE THROUGH” (By Telegraph—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

About 1000 men employed at the Southdown, Westfield and King’s Wharf freezing works decided yesterday upon a “stay-in” policy as a protest against their working conditions and wages. They claim that they are entitled to a 40-hour week and a minimum wage for certain classes of workers who at present receive considerably below the standard set basic wage. A representative of the men said that they were determined to stay where they were until they received an offer of improved conditions from the employers. After a meeting yesterday lasting three hours, the Southdown workers resumed work at 1 p.m., but when the management discovered that a “go slow” policy was being carried out, they ordered the cessation of operations and dismissed all the slaughtermen and allied workers. During the afternoon the men were paid their outstanding wages. At Westfield the management refused to permit the workers to resume work and all hands in the slaughtering and allied departments were paid off. The men remained at the works in the afternoon pending the decision of a meeting of delegates, which later announced that a “stay-in” policy would be carried out.

Both the Southdown and Westfield works were quietly picketed by the men. Some of the men rigged bunks, but the majority preferred to play cards. All expressed their determination to see the dispute through. The catering limits of the canteen at the works were strained with the unusual demands placed upon it. Fifty dozen pies were sold yesterday. The men have organised victualling for all those involved in the “stay-in,” and anticipate that by mid-day to-day their arrangements will be complete, with a gramophone providing musical accompaniment to their conversation and a suction fan whirring noiselessly above their heads. Nearly 70 employees of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, Limited, settled down at the King’s Wharf works of the company last night to play their part in the “stayin” movement. Export buying at the Westfield fat stock sales yesterday was directly affected as a result of the trouble.