MEN REFUSE TO VOTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22059, 15 March 1935, Page 10

MEN REFUSE TO VOTE

DISPUTE AT WESTFIELD BALLOT NOT FAVOURED STRIKE PROPOSAL LAPSES As a protest against the manner in which the disputo is alleged to have been handled officially, none of the slaughtermon at the Westfield freezing works participated in the secrot strike ballot arranged to bo conducted at the works yesterday. Although two officials of the Labour Department were in attendance at the speci ally-arranged polling-booth in the works' yard from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., not a single vote was recorded by the 187 men concerned. Steps to hold a secret ballot on a disputo between members of the Auckland Abattoir Assistants and Freezing Works' Employees Union and the Westfield Freezing Company, Limited, were taken under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1913. The Act provides that a secret ballot should be taken on a proposal to strike when no settlement has been reached in the dispute between employees and employers. Notice of intention to hold yesterday's ballot was given by the deputy-registrar, under the Act, on Tuesday.

Wages and Conditions Tho actual issues of tho dispute have not been disclosed, but the ..slaughtermen at tho Westfield works have been dissatisfied with wages and conditions of employment since November last. On 'November 10 the men held a stopwork meeting over differences with the management of the company in regard to overtime. A settlement was reached on November 32, but it is stated that the wages and conditions on tho slaughtering floors 1 have repeatedly been the subject of grievances by tho men since that date. Representatives of tho men and tho management have had several conversations recently, but a deadlock ensued. An application to tho Minister of Labour, that he should take action under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1913, was filed by the union. The Act provides that the Minister shall, on receipt of such notice, either refer the matter to a conciliation commissioner to inquire into and endeavour to effect a settlement of the dispute, with yower to summon a conference of tho parties to such dispute; or, refer the matter for investigation to a Labour Dispute Committeo. The Minister's Decision Such a committee, stipulates the Act, shall consist of not lefis than three nor more than seven members, as determined by the Minister. An equal number of members shall be appointed to represent the workers and the employers respectively. Ihe members appointed are required to elect "some other person" as chairman. In the event of non-agreement on that point tho Minister is empowered to make an appointment. It is further provided that a secret ballot shall be taken of tho workers concerned if a settlement of tho dispute is not arrived at within 14 days from date of notice of the dispute to the Minister. It is stated that the Minister's decision to proceed with a ballot surprised the men. It is claimed that this step was premature, and that tho other alternative mandatory courses open to the Minister should have been followed prior to conducting a ballot. The men's action in abstaining from voting is said, to be a mark of their disapproval. It is understood that as a result of the men's refusal to exercise their right to vote, the application filed on their behalf automatically lapses. When tho matter was referred to Mr. W. E. Sill, secretary of the union, last night, ho declined to discuss it.