WORKS AGAIN IDLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23669, 29 November 1938, Page 10

WORKS AGAIN IDLE

DISPUTE AT WESTFIELD EIGHT HUNDRED EMPLOYEES ACTION TAKEN AS PROTEST COURT'S INTERPRETATION OF AWARD (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 28. As a protest against the Arbitration Court's interpretation of the clause in their award relating to the manning of mechanical appliances for the handling of stock during slaughtering and dressing operations, the employees of the Westfield Freezing Works ceased work at 10 a.m. to-day, and the works were idle for the remainder of the day. Although less than 100 men are directly concerned in the clause in question, the employees in all departments, numbering over 800. including women and girls engaged in the cannery, ceased work. The employees commenced work at the usual hour in the morning, but. as a result of a meeting of the union and the workers' delegates held shortly after 8 a.m., a general stop-work meeting was called at 10 o'clock to discuss the oosition in view of the decision of the industrial magistrate (Mr J. A. Gilmour). " Chain " or " Ring " The clause in the award stated that "on and after October 1. 1938 not more than 35 workers shall be employed on any chain" used for the handling of stock. The men contended at the recent hearing of the case that the mechanical appliance used at the Westfield works was a " chain," while on behalf of the employers it was argued that there were two "rings" installed at the Westfield works, which were the equivalent of four chains. The magistrate in his finding said that the award appeared to be defective, as it had not made provision for some limitation of the number of workers employed in the system of slaughtering at Westfield. At the meeting of the employees to-day it was stated that the court had failed to clear up the doubts contained in the clause. The slaughtermen were definitely of the opinion that the system under which they worked was a " chain " for all practical purposes and the limitation set out in the award should govern the conditions at the works.

After a brief discussion the men decided to cease work as a protest. All that was conveyed to' the management was an announcement that a further meeting would be held at the works to-morrow to discuss matters. Effects of Stoppage The action of the men left the management with several thousands of lambs, sheep and cattle and pigs on hand as arrangements had been made for a full day's killing. The staff hands and. others employed about the works on building alterations and construction remained at work, but the management had no means of disposing of the stock. In view of the uncertainty of the position, the freighting of stock for killing to-morrow was cancelled. Orje of the most serious repercussions is the interruption in killing for the chilled beef due to be loaded on the Port Townsville, which )3 scheduled to sail on Saturday. The management stated that even if killing operations are resumed at the earliest possible moment, the works will be unable to fill the space which has been reserved on the boat. INTEREST OF MINISTER NEGOTIATIONS SUGGESTED FRUITLESS EFFORT TO HOLD CONFERENCE (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 28. At the suggestion of the Minister of Labour (Mr H. T. Armstrong) members of the Auckland Trades Council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour endeavoured this afternoon to open negotiations with representatives of the Freezing Workers' Union at the Westfield works. Mr H. Campbell, secretary of the council, and Mr F. Craig, a member of the executive, visited the works, but they were unable to get in touch with the acting-secretary of the union or members of the executive. The secretary of the union, Mr W. E. Sill, is at present ill.

So far no conference has been arranged with the employers by the union or by the federation on its behalf.