DISPUTE EXTENDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19743, 23 September 1938, Page 13

DISPUTE EXTENDS

FERTILISER FIRMS' MEM UNLOADING OP GUANO RESUMPTION TO-DAY DISCUSSION OF CLAIMS (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The dispute at the Te Papapa and Westfield chemical fertiliser works over the rates of pay for unloading trucks of guano, was extended yesterday to include the Otahuhu works of the Challenge Phosphate Company, Limited, with the result that there was a complete stoppage of work throughout the day. involving about 300 men. At a stop-work meeting held in Te Papapa in the afternoon, the men decided to return to work this morning while. the issue is discussed by their representatives and the works management. According to the statements made, only 11 men were concerned in the original phase of the dispute, and the other workers ceased work in support of their claim for a higher hourly rate of wages than the employers were prepared to pay. It was stated on behalf of the men that the dispute had arisen through there being no provision in the existing award for the unloading of guano. "It is many years since guano was handled at any of the works," stated a representative of the men. "When the union submitted its claim for a new award to the Arbitration Court a week ago, no clause was inserted covering the handling of this material." It was also stated that the workers had been led to believe that the fertiliser companies were discontinuing the importation of guano, hence the absence of any clause in the award. The men contended that the rate of payment for unloading sulphur did not compensate them for the discomfort and physical labour in handling guano, and claimed 3s an hour was a reasonable remuneration. An official of one of the works said he was unaware of any undertaking having been given to cease importing guano. His firm had not brought any into the country for about eight years. _