WOOLLEN MILLS STILL IDLE

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 6

WOOLLEN MILLS STILL IDLE

STRIKERS APPEAR ON PAY DAY

NO NEGOTIATIONS YET

(Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, December 7.

It was pay day at the Onehunga Woollen Mills and the employees on strike appeared at the works to draw the balance of their pay. There were many jokes and much good humour although evidence of the determination of the employees was provided by the presence of pickets. The company has taken no steps to work the mill since the beginning of the strike on Monday, nor has it made any move to negotiate, an attitude which has drawn a protest from Mr T. Long, secretary of the union. The company has simply handed over the conduct of its side of the trouble to the Auckland Employers’ Association. The acting secretary of the association (Mr I. C. Howard) would make no statement on the position but it is thought that the company’s view is that there is nothing to negotiate. Nothing the company has done, it is considered, has been a breach of the award. It was exactly a week after the girls ih the weaving section had walked off their job that the company was informed of what their grievances were, and before consideration could be given to these, other employees adopted the attitude that unless the dispute was settled there would be a complete cessation of work at the mill. Before the roster in the weaving section was posted the union secretary was consulted and it was posted with his agreement. The roster was drawn out to assist the girls, for without it there could have been no continuity of work. . While the employees, through their union, affirm their willingness to negotiate, no indication can be given, because of the attitude of the company, of the propects of such negotiations taking place at the present stage of the trouble. __