BUTCHERS’ STRIKE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17096, 31 October 1929, Page 11

BUTCHERS’ STRIKE

TROUBLE AT WESTFIELD AN INJUSTICE ALLEGED (Per Press Association. I AUCKLAND, last night. A meeting o', the Butchers’ Union executive was held to-night, but no now developments regarding the strike at the abattoirs.and R. and W. Hcllaby’s was reported. “The men are smarting under a,.sense of injustice,” said Mr. N. Sill, secretary of tlie union, when discussing the attitude of the union. The rates of pay for killing pigs were the chief hone of contention, but the slaughteringtof mutton also entered into the question. Under the new award, slaughtermen wore now asked to kill pigs for, about 3i,d a head, while slaughtermen employed by freezing companies received Is 5d and Is lid. In addition to classifying the killing of pigs as unskilled labor’, the court also-reduced the rate for long shank sheep by 3s 9d a 100. The Mayor, Mr: Baildon, in a statement, said: “I am sorry the men have acted in this way. I would have much preferred that they Lad met the committee before going on strike. The coun. cil must stand by the award that has been given, just as it would have done if it had been against it. Although some inconvenience may result from the extreme measure taken by the men, I do not think it will he serious. As matters stand at present, I regret I do not feel justified in discussing the position with representatives of the men, but, if the men are prepared to go hack to their work and accept tre award—as in Yny opinion they should do—l am prepared, with the chairman of the committee, to consider any points in the court s finding on which the men may desire to represent their views.” Thirty master butchers were engaged, at the municipal abattoirs this afternoon killing their own meat and they are calling for assistance to-morrow. In this way. it is hoped there Will he no shortage .in the city’s meat supply.