STRIKE AT WORKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25426, 6 January 1944, Page 2

STRIKE AT WORKS

KAIAPOI SLAUGHTERMEN DISPUTE OVER STAFFING (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 5. The slaughtermen at the Kaiapoi works of the North Canterbury Sheep Farmers’ Co-operative Company, Ltd., went on strike at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon and did not resume work to-day. A general meeting of all the company’s workers was held this morning, and, with the exception of the 35 slaughtermen concerned, all the employees started work as usual. Later there was a conference between representatives of the strikers and the National Service and Labour Departments. The dispute at the works was caused by the direction of a freezing worker in the army to employment at the works. This man had been released for military service after a survey of the freezing industry by the National Service Department and was in camp when the killing season opened. When, in accordance with direction, he reported to the works it was found that there was no vacancy, as the position he had occupied previously was filled by a man who had returned after military service overseas. The man directed to the works was released for employment in the freezing industry only, and normally would return to the army unless directed elsewhere. The general manager of , the company, Mr N. S. Wyber, said to-day that the workers had advised him that a meeting would be held at the works at 8 o’clock to-morrow morning to consider the position. The strike had arisen over the staffing of the works, and' the matter was in the hands of the National Service and Labour Deparments. Meanwhile 3000 lambs were waiting to be killed. The secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union, Mr H. G. Kilpatrick, said that officially he knew nothing about the strike, as the matter had not been referred to him by the works branch of the union. Until the matter had been referred to him and he knew the men’s point of view, he felt that he should not comment.