WESTFIELD WORKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23648, 4 November 1938, Page 12

WESTFIELD WORKS

DISPUTE AMONG EMPLOYEES STOPPAGE FOR TWO HOURS (Peb United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 3. A stop-work meeting involving over 700 men occurred at the Westfield Freezing Works when a dispute arose among the men on the slaughtering floor as to the staffing of the chains. The stoppage lasted for fully two hours, at the end of which time work was resumed. Only partial teams were engaged in the morning to man the single chain in i operation for slaughtering, and, as is customary, under the terms of the award on such occasions, several of the slaughtering floor labourers were given employment on killing and dressing operations. A dispute developed among the men concerned, and resulted in work being held up. No agreement could be reached, and a stop-work meeting of all departments was called. The secretary of the union (Mr W. E. Sill) was summoned, and he later arrived at the works and discussed matters with the men. The Labour Department was also advised, and an official was sent out from Auckland to make inquiries. Just prior to his arrival, the men adjusted their differences and work was resumed before the lunch interval.

The management stated that the dispute did not concern it, as the trouble was purely of a domestic nature. The hold-up of work had not unduly interfered with operations. as this was the slack season.