INDUSTRIAL DEADLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17661, 23 December 1920, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL DEADLOCK.

* MEAT WORKS REMAIN CLOSED DISPUTE WITH EMPLOYEES. HISTORY OF THE TROUBLE. The dispute between the freezing companies and a section of the freezing works employees has reached a deadlock, and consequently there is no possibility of slaughtering operations this reason being commenced until after the holidays. As far as the Auckland district is concerned operations for the new season should have been started on December 1. Bookings were made for that date by the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, but they had to be countermanded, owing to the dispute with the men not having been settled. Discussing the matter yesterday, Mr. S. J. Am bury, chairman of directors of the company, said the history of the dispute went back to April, 1919. At that period a conference between representatives of the freez'ng companies and the unions met in Wellington to try and frame a Dominion agreement. The conference sat for four days, when an agreement was arrived at, which was subsequently confirmed by the Arbitration Court. This agreement was made applicable to the whole of the freezing companies of the Dominion, with the exception of those in the Auckland district, the local union having refused to recognise the agreement. The Auckland companies, however, paid the wages set out in the agreement, and with the rest of the Dominion companies have worked under it ever since. Although the increased rates were paid from February 1, 1919, the award did not come into forte till August 31, 1919, and will continue in force till next August. Bonus in February. In February, 1920, continued Mr. Ambury, as the resu't of a further conference held in Wellington, between the employers and the unions, the wages were increased by per cent, to slaughtermen and 10 per cent, to all hourly and weekly workers. These increases have been paid ever since by way of a bonus. In October last, the federation asked for an increase in the wages, on account of the increased cost of living. A conference was he'd between the parties in We'lington on October 27. The federation demands were:—(l) An increase of 7d per hour to hourly workers ; (2) an increase of 9d per hour to chamberhands ; (3) 15 per cent, increase to all pieceworkers. These were all in addition to the present 10 per cent, bonus. A munber of alterations to the conditions of the award were also demanded. After hearing the union delegates in support of their claims, the employers, in conference, resolved to offer an increase over award rates of 20 per cent, on hourly rates, and 15 p'er cent, on piecework. After another meeting with the union delegates on the following day, a committee of seven was appointed to "confer with them, with power to increase the rates to 21 per cent., this being the full extent of the increa-se shown by the Government Statistician's figures for August. This committee, after considerable discussion with the delegates, decided to make the offer 20 per cent, and 22£ per cent., this being more than the full conference had authorised. This offer was submitted to the union representatives on October 28, and a decision was requested that same evening. The reply -was to the effect that the de'egates would not accept the responsibility of deciding, and had referred the matter to the district -unions. Another conference was held in Wellington on November 24, at which nearly all the companies were represented. Mr. F. Niall. secretary of the federation, was asked to attend on behalf of the unions. The companies' previous offer was renewed, but Mr. Niall declined to call the other delegates together to consider that alone. It was then decided that the companies should proceed to pay the increased bonuses. Unions Ultimatum. Ou December 15 a conference of freezing companies was held in Wellington, at the request of the Hawke's'Bay and Gisborne companies. Mr. Niall attended, and said he could get the delegates together by Friday morning, December i 7. It was agreed to meet them on that date, and a committpe with full power to act was appointed to meet and discuss the situation with the employees' representatives. This meeting took place on Friday morning, continued all day and until 11 > a.m. the following day, when the union delegates broke off the conference and retired, stating that they would consider nothing less than their full demands. Mr. Ambury said the rate of wages for chamberhands under the agreement of April, 1919, was Is lid per hour, or £4 4s 4d per week. The bonus granted in February, 1920, increased the rate to 2s ljd an hour, or £4 12s 9|d per The companies* offer of a 22£ per cent, increase brings the rate to 2s 4j!d an hour, or £5 3s 3£d a week. The increase demanded by the men would bring the wages to 2s 6d per hour, or £5 10s a week. The wages for manure, tallow t and fellmongery hands, general labourers, watchmen, firemen, greasers, classers. and cirers under the agreement of April, 1919, were Is 9d per hour, or £3 17e per week. The bonus of February, of 1920, increased the wages to Is lid" per hour, or £4 4s B£d a week. The 22£ per centincrease offered by the companies would increase the wages to 2s lgd an hour, or £4 14s 2|d a week. The increase demanded by the men would bring the wages to 2s 3d an hour, or £4 19s a week. Overtime Payments. The rates mentioned do not include any overtime, added Mr. Ambury. The average earnings of chamberhands per week including overtime, are much in, excess of the amounts quoted. In the case of one man, taken as an example, during the period of six months at the old rate 3 the overtime amounted to £2 53 9d, at the companies' offer to £2 lis per week. He emphasised that the company did not desire to have the men work overtime, but when frozen produce was being shipped it was necessary to load into railway trucks during the nisrhfc, in order that the meat be delivered in good condition alongside steamers at eight o'clock in the morning. Overtime was therefore unavoidable. He said that up to November 1 the bonuses paid by the freezing companies were greater than the increases granted by the Arbitration Court. The increases now offered by the companies would amount to 9s 6d and 10s 6d a week, excluding overtime, while the Arbitra- • tion Court's decision was that the last bonus should be Zs. "There is no dispute between the slaughtering hands and the companies," said Mr. Ambury, "and hundreds of slaughtermen, including a large number from Australia, are waiting for the works to open." Questioned ;:s to what would occur if the men persisted in their present attitude and refused to start work. Mr. Ambury said he was not prepared to express an opinion on the matter. With depressed" markets for practically all classes of primary products, excepting butter, the producers could not afford to meet further heaw demsn<'» for increased wages. Mean while, he sr-id. the fanners were suffering through not being able to get their stock slaughtered and sold.