REFUSAL TO WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 61, 13 March 1942, Page 5

REFUSAL TO WORK

EMPLOYEES AT WESTFIELD UNIONISTS AT HELLABY’S (P.A.) Auckland, March 12. All members of the Freezing , Workers’ Union employed al. the Westfield works of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., refused to resume after lunch to-day. The reason given was the company’s refusal to allow memi bers of the union to hold meetings i with the company's women ems ployees engaged in the canning of meat under war contracts. i “These women employees,” an olli- ; cer of the company slated, “do not i come under the freezing workers’ award, but are members of the Can- . nery Employees’ Union, which covers ■ all cannery employees.” As the women had only very re- • cently been introduced to this work, ' and as many had done so out of a ■ sense of patriotic duty, the company ! representative continued, and as i their conditions of work and payment I were at least equal to those provided ’ for in the freezing workers’ award or any similar award, the company was unwilling to permit its premise , to be used for the purpose of disturbing these women, who were engaged in a vital war work. “The Freezing Workers’ Union has no right on any pretext whatever,” r continued the officer, “to interfere with these women workers, and even if the union considered it had some such right it is unthinkable that the company should permit, the union to • alter, at this critical time, the good relations which have always existed ‘ with the Cannery Union.” In the opinion of the company it was imperative, if war contracts were ‘ to ,be fulfilled, that cannery em- ' ployees remain outside the petty • strikes and interruptions of work which have recently been the company’s experience with the Freezing ’ Workers’ Union.