SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 January 1944, Page 4

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE

NO SETTLEMENT AT KAIAPOI YET Christchurch, Jan. 6. No settlement of the slaughtermen’s strike at the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers’ Co-operative Company's works at Kaiapoi was effected to-day. when officials of the National Service and Labour Departments addressed a meeting at the works. The strikers decided to meet again to-morrow meaning, and indicated that if the company did not meet their demands all operations at the works would cease. At the present time only 37 'slaughtermen are on strike, the other workers having been advised by the union to report for work till to-morrow. The president of the branch, Mr S A. Miller, in a statement this afternoon, said however, that the strike was expected to spread to other departments of the works to-morrow Mr Miller said that work ceased because the slaughtermen claimed that one of their numbers, a union official had been victimised The man in question had been ordered by the National Service Department in Wellington to leave camp at Trentham and to report to Christchurch for duty at the freezing works The manager of the company, Mr N. S. Wyber, had said he would oppose this direction, stating no reasons. Later, in answer to union officials, he said he had no job available "This man is an experienced chain slaughterman and inexperienced learners have since been engaged on the chain and may possibly lower the men’s earnings.” said Mr Miller. “Thfc men object to new hands being put on when experienced men are available, and claim this man has been refused a start because of his union activities.” Commenting on Mr Miller’s statement. the manager of the company, Mr Wyber. said the man referred to had not been directed to the works by the manpower authorities. The company did not require his services as it had experienced men doing his particular job. Mr Wyber added that there would be no difficulty with the 3000 lambs waiting to be killed, as they were being well cared for with plenty of feed and water.