600 IDLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23121, 20 August 1938, Page 14

600 IDLE

WESTFIELD WORKS NO KILLING DONE PLIGHT OF CALVES ACCOMMODATION ISSUE Over 600 employees, including girls, .•it Die West field Freezing Works, refused to start work yesterday morning because they objected to the dressing room accommodation, which they considered was not in terms of the award. No work was done by them yesterday, part of the day being occupied by meetings, which were adjourned about 2.30 p.m. until eight o'clock this morning. The failure to start yesterday, which is believed to have been the result of a decision made on Wednesday, came at a time when 'IOOO bobby calves were awaiting slaughter, and, as they cannot be fed, an unfortunate situation lias been created. There was no attempt at a stay-in strike, and pickets were not on duty yesterday. With a gang comprised of foremen and other permanent employees, the company is endeavouring to kill as many of the calves as possible, woik proceeding most of last night, but it is stated that some of the animals will undoubtedly die from hunger and privation.

Appeal by the Minister The company made an appeal to tho slaughtermen to resume until they had killed the bobhv calves, but without result. It is also understood that the Minister of Labour, the lion. H. 'J'. Armstrong, made an appeal in a telegram to the men not only to resume work until their complaint could bo investigated, but in any ease to kill the bobby calves.' Mr. Armstrong, who pointed out that the action of the men was embarrassing the Government, stated that losses caused by the failure to slaughter the calves would fall not upon the West field [Freezing Company, Limited, but upon the farmers who had consigned them to the works. Loud Continuous Bleating Hakes of trucks closely packed with bobby calves stood at the sidings at West field yesterday. Throughout the day the bleating of the hungry calves was loud and continuous. Another problem then facing the company was the disposal of large numbers of carcases of calves and cattle killed on the previous (.lay which were aw aiting boning. A meeting of the workers yesterday was addressed by an inspector of the Labour Department and also by Mr. AY. I'-. Sill, secretary of the Auckland Freezing Workers' Union, who later described conditions 111 some of the departments of the works as unspeakable. Terms of the Award Under the award, which came into forco last January, employers are required to provide separate rooms for dining, dressing, bathing and drying clothes. The award aiso states that dressing rooms shall be of adequate size, fitted with a sufficient number of hot and cold showers and with a locker for each worker. Previously, lockers were in the dining rooms. The men complain that the regulations relating to floor space and the arrangements of lockers have not been complied with. As a result of representations which they made recently, the question of the size of the lockers was referred to the Court of Arbitration, and the hearing of the dispute was set down for October 0. Company's Viewpoint In a statement of the position from its point of view, a representative of the company said it had always provided dressing room, accommodation of a reasonable nature. When the new regulations came into force it prepared plans for accommodation in accordance with the award. These plans were submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, tho Hon. W. Lcq Martin, who approved of them, and also to the Labour Department. When these were sanctioned, work was started on them as soon as possible.

Reasons for Delay A scarcity of materials and labour, as well as unfavourable weather, delayed operations. The position was explained to Mr. Sill 011 several occasions. Yesterday it was further pointed out to him that with the exception of some, plumbing work, all the additions and alterations required would be ready in a week, apart from a new dressing room in the freezing section which had to bo embodied in a new block which will take sonic months to complete. Incidentally, tho freezing men accepted temporary accommodation, but cram© out yesterday with other employees as a gesture of solidarity. Drying Rooms Provided it was also stated by tho management that the lockers objected to by the 111011 wei'o of the standard typo first installed in J92(3. " Complaint is made by tho men that they often have to put wet clothes in the lockers, but the reply of the company is that drying rooms arc provided. Another complaint was that the showers are inadequate, but the company points out that opening from each dressing room is a shower room. Each department has its own dining room, dressing room and shower room. Claims by the Union Mr. Sill said yesterday that the company maintained the award did not specify the size of the lockers, but the union had relied 011 tho company's souse of fairness. When tho men crowded into tho dressing rooms, conditions became disordered, and as a result thoro were losses of property. In the women's rooms there were no lockers and 0110 girl lost her wages last week. Tho award 'specified that the conveniences for tlie workers should bo in existence • by* May 31, but the company, while maintaining that completion by then was impossible, - had carried on building programmes. The union considered that the workers' accommodation should have boon improved .before new works were embarked upon.

Complaint is also made regarding tho women's quarters. The management states that a woman inspector from the Labour Department had inspected these, and with tho exception of several suggested alterations, had approved of them.