FREEZING INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19045, 19 June 1936, Page 13

FREEZING INDUSTRY

DOMINION DISPUTE

VLL PHASES AFFECTED

HEARING OF CLAIMS

iPer Pr«ss Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

Tlie Conciliation Council io-iluy commenced ilio hearing of the Dominion dispute in 'ln' meat freezing industry L-rented by Hie North Island Trades Association 'of Workers, comprising 11 unions in the North Island, the claims affecting all the companies in the North Island, and similarly by the South Island Kreezing Workers'" Industrial .Association, affecting all the works in the .South Island. There is in addition the dispute created by the .Auckland Abattoirs Assistants" Union in tint Auckland industrial district, and another in Wellington created' by the Wellington freezing Works Employees' I'niou. ".Both these were set down'lor hearing at a. Inter dale by mutual agreement. However, the Auckland union agreed to co-operate with' the. North Island I'Yeezingi Workers' Federation in the case now before Ihe i-oiirt.

Mi. M, .1. Reunion, conciliation commissioner, is presiding. The ngenl for the association is Mr. W. K. SilJ. Auckland, and for the South Island Mr. U Clover. Wellington. The agent, for I lie employers is Mr. C. (!. Wilkin. Christchurch.

The employees' claims cover every piia.se of the'industry, with a minimum wage for labourers of 2s 3d an hour. The employers' counter-proposals are for a. 5 per cent increase on the rates set on I in the present, agreement, subject to the conditions oi work remaining the same, to which is appended a note to the effect Mint under the new and proposed statutory provisions both in regard to lime and other alterations in working eondilions the average earnings will he at leas! equal to, if not greater than, the Miming* under the 1931 rates of pay. The meeting went into committee and Ihe proceedings are expected lo last several days.