SLAUGHTERMEN ON STRIKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1944, Page 3

SLAUGHTERMEN ON STRIKE

DISPUTE OVER STAFFING. TROUBLE AT KAIAPOI. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 5. Slaughtermen at the Kaiapoi works of the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers’ Co-operative Company, Limited, went on strike at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and did not resume work today. A'general meeting of all the company's workers was held this morning, and the" other departments, with the exception of the 35 slaughtermen concerned, started work as usual. Later, there was a conference between representatives of the strikers and the National Service and Labour Departments. The dispute at the works was caused by the direction of a freezing worker in the Army to employment at the works. This man was released for military service after a survey of the freezing industry by the National Service Department, and was in camp when the killing season opened. When he reported to the works, it was found that there was no vacancy, as the position he occupied previously was filled by a man who had returned after’ military service overseas. The man directed to the works was released for employment in the freezing industry only, and normally would return to the Army unless directed elsewhere.