WORKS IDLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22675, 12 March 1937, Page 10

WORKS IDLE

FERTILISER HANDS OVER 300 INVOLVED CONFERENCE FAILS WAGES OFFER REFUSED Over 300 employees at the three chemical manure works at Westfield, Otahuhu and Te Papapa stopped work yesterday morning as the result of a dispute over wages, which came to a head at a conciliation council meeting of representatives of the men and employers on Wednesday night. A mass meeting of the men from the three works," who are members of the Otahuhu Chemical Manure Workers' Union, field at the Otahuhu works shortly after nine o'clock yesterday morning decided that the employees should refuse to work until their demands are conceded by the employers.

The move toward a cessation of work was made by the employees at the Westfield works of Kempthorne Prosser and Company's New Zealand Drug Company, Limited, who held a meeting prior to the usual hour of commencing work. After deciding to abstain from working the employees, numbering about 80, proceeded to the Otahuhu works of the Challenge Phosphate Company, Limited, and delegates also approached the workers at the Te Papapa works of the New Zealand Farmers' Fertilizer Company, Limited. The men ceased working at both places about 9 a.m.

Development of Dispute The dispute over wages developed from a comparatively small issue, which was raised at the Westfield works on Wednesday of last week. At conciliation council proceedings about a fortnight prior to that day agreement was reached between the men»and the employers on several points, but the question of wages was held over for consideration by the Arbitration Court, which is expected to open sittings at Auckland in May. The Westfield works' management was later requested to concede an increase in the wages of four men employed on the "bank" or alternatively to relieve the men and rotate this particular work. When the management decided to replace only two of the men the stop-work meeting was held. Demand by the Men

It was decided to insist on the wages question being settled without having to wait until the Arbitration Court sitting, and the men demanded that the employers meet them in a further conciliation council sitting and to continue work pending the outcome of the conference. The commissioner, Mr. R. E. Price, arranged, a meeting between the representatives, which was held on Wednesday night. The claim filed by the union asked for 2s 6d an fiour for "day men" and 3s an hour for "bank men and those employed on bluestone and lime sulphur " The schedule presented by the employers for consideration by the Arbitration Court offered the "day men" a uniform rate of 2s o|d an hour without any differentiation. At the conciliation meeting the employers, it was stated yesterday, made an offer containing an all round increase of wages, but this was refused by the men, who demanded that their claim bo admitted and agreed to. Proceedings extended until nearly midnight, when they were abandoned as no agreement could be reached. It is understood that the men's representatives informed the employers that unless their claims were granted they would resort to "direct action." No Official Statement

The decision of the meeting to stop work was observed by all the men at the three works but at the representations of the respective managements a few of the shift men who are engaged in attending to the acid-making plants were allowed to remain on duty for a period not exceeding 24 hours. This concession was made out of the men's knowledge that the process of manufacture cannot Jbe abandoned at a moment's notice, as considerable loss and damage would be involved to the expensive plant.

Officials ot the union declined to make any statement whether position had been reached of a definite strike or the cessation of work was merely a demonstration of protest for one day. "It is no use making a statement at this juncture of the proceedings," was the only comment made by the union secretary, Mr. W. Miller. Staff Men Not Affected

Unofficial statements by employees, which were not confirmed or denied by officials, were to the effect that the men would report at tho various works this morning and that developments would depend on tho attitude of tho employers toward tho men.'s claims. '.lt is up to tho employers to make tho next move," was a worker's comment.

Tho staff men and technical employees at tho works are not affected in any dispute. Numerous motor-lorries which called at tho works during the day for loads of manure for delivery to farmers had to return empty on account of tho inability of the few remaining staff hands to fill all orders.

MINISTER NOT NOTIFIED NO COMMENT ON DISPUTE When the dispute at tho chemical works at Westfiekl was referred to the Minister of Labour, tho Hon. T. Armstrong, yesterday, ho said ho had not received any official intimation of the trouble. The Minister did not make any other comment on tho dispute.