FACTORY CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY

Southland Times, Issue 23826, 25 May 1939, Page 6

FACTORY CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY

CESSATION OF DUTIES BY MEN appointment of member AS SUB-FOREMAN (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 24. The works of James Hardie and Company Proprietary Ltd., Penrose, manufacturers of cement and asbestos sheets for roofing have been closed for the remainder of the week. After the cessation of work on Tuesday by 100 workmen, the men decided to return to work this morning, but were informed that the works would not reopen until Monday. Mr J. Purtell, secretary of the Brick and Cement Workers’ Union, stated that the men’s grievance was an alleged threat of victimization against one of their number, not by the management, but bv one of the other workers. The men decided on Tuesday afternoon to strike as a protest. After a meeting, at which he addressed them, they considered that sufficient attention had been drawn to their grievance and decided to return to work. A representative of the company said that the workers protested when they heard of the appointment of a member of the union as a sub-foreman, alleging that in the past he had uttered a threat against one of the workers. The men’s offer to return to work was unconditional and the promotion of the sub-foreman would stand. The closing down of the works was a substantial matter and it would not pay to resume for the remaining days of the week. A similar course had . been taken when there was a cessation of work through a wages dispute last year. *