UNION TO DISBAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22596, 8 December 1936, Page 10

UNION TO DISBAND

SOUTHDOWN WORKERS freezing trade decision RETURN TO LARGER BODY After being in existence for four years, tho Southdown Freezing Workers' Union is to be wound up, tho members having; decided to cancel its registration under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Tlu; union, which was iorined in December, 1932, was a. move toward tho establishment of separate works unions in the freezing industry, as distinct from Dominion or provincial organisations, and resulted from an industrial dispute in October that year. Tho slaughtermen and chamber hands at the Southdown, Westfield and other freezing works in tho Auckland province, refused to accept tho wage reductions and new conditions proposed by tho various managements. Over 1000 workers went on strike, and when the lamb slaughtering season arrived a few weeks later, the respective managements engaged free labour. Practically all the workers involved in the dispute were members of tho Auckland Freezing Workers and Heluted Trades' Union. Its membership was seriously reduced as a result of tho strike.

The Southdown works' employees formed a separate union to embrace all hands employed there and the chamber hands at the King's Wharf storage chambers, controlled by the same management. The new union and the management agreed on wages and conditions, and shortly afterward the chain system of handling sheep and lambs was introduced at tho works and at Westfield, where the method is still employed in slaughtering. With the restoration of the Arbitration Court under recent legislation the members of the Southdown union decided to dissolve their organisation and beconio associated with tho former union, which embraces all tho other workers in the industry in the province. A resolution confirming this decision was adopted at the week-end, when reports were received on the consolidation of the workers' organisation throughout the Dominion.