SLAUGHTERMEN IDLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24606, 14 May 1941, Page 6

SLAUGHTERMEN IDLE

BELFAST FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE OVER CHAIN KILLING CHANGES ( P A ) CHRISTCHUBCH, May 13. The killing chains of the Belfast works of Messrs Thomas Borthvvick and Sons, Ltd., were idle to-day from 810 am Objections were made by the works section of the Freezing Workers' Union to proposed changes in the chain, and killing was stopped when the men declined to accept the company's nominess to fill the chain of 38 The chain men were then paid off 'No settlement of the dispute, which affected only the slaughtermen at Borthwick's Belfast works, was in sight at a late hour to-night. Mr R. T. Bailey, district officer of the Labour Department, said that the department had no information on the hold-up, but it would make an inquiry to-morrow morning. Mr Bailey also said that the department had not looked into the dispute. This is the second stoppage of work to occur at the company's Belfast works this season. The previous stoppage was caused by an argument on the work to be undertaken by an employee. With the falling-off of supplies, the killing capacity of the works was reduced last Friday by one chain of 38 men. this being accepted as a seasonal course. A month's killing for the remaining chain was reported today to be in sight. When the holdup occurred a lock-out was alleged by the union officials.