TO RESUME WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 66, 19 March 1942, Page 4

TO RESUME WORK

WORKERS AT WESTFIELD DISPUTE TERMINATED (P.A.) Auckland, March 18. On an assurance from the Federation of Labour that it wouid endeavour to have the issues in dispute between men and management at the Westfield premises of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., investigated by a tribunal, the 2300 strikers at the various establishments of freezing industry in Auckland are to resume work at 8 o’clock to-morrow morning. This move toward settlement wa* accepted by the workers at a meeting in the Trades Hall after protracted negotiations between the union executive and officials of the federation. The dispute originated in the demands of 350 employees at Hellaby’s premises that the Freezing Workers' Union, of which they ar*: members be the sole industrial organisation at lhe establishment, and that Hellaby s Cannery Union be deregistered. This action was taken after the works management had refused union delegates permission to approach girls in cannery with a view to inducing them to join the union. Two thousand workers at Westfield, Southdown and King's Wharf ceased work in support of this action. A mass meeting assembled in the Trades Hall at 9 a.m. to-day and was adjourned till fully an hour later to enable the union executive to confer with Federation of Labour officials. Hopes of a settlement were fading and the resumed meeting was on the point of adjourning for the day when a further jpport cn the negotiations with the federation was received. While lhe statement to the meeting gave no direct assurance that th? Government would agree to the appointment of a tribunal, the workers accepted the federation’s promise ot intervention as an indication that the Minister of Labour would authorise an inquiry into the issues in dispute. NO COMPROMISE MINISTER STANDS FIRM (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., March 18. “I made it quite clear that the Government had no intention of compromising with the men on strike," said the Hon. P. C. Webb. Minister of Labour, referring to an interview which the Federation of Labour had with him to-day concerning the stoppage of work by the Westfield and So uthd o w n wo r kers. The federation, added the Minister, agreed to advise the men to resume work immediately. The men had complied with this advice and intended lo resume unreservedly. Mr. Webb added that whatever grievances the men had were to be handed over to the federation, \vhich in turn would make representations to lhe Government to institute an inquiry into the different troubles arising in lhe industry. The men concerned in the stoppage had broken lheir own rules and had violated every principle of unionism. They had delivered a serious blow to the country’s war effort. These men must realise that the privileges they enjoyed carried with them grave responsibilities. Acting as they did, they sacrificed every right they had enjoyed under the protection of the law, with the result that the Government withdrew tha 4 protection. The Minister said he was at ail times willing to hear representations, whether of employers or workers, and to discuss any questions affecting the industry. If the Federation o: Labour approached him to institute an inquiry after the mon had returned to work ho 'would do so. No one regret fed more than he the necessity for the action taken, but when the country was in danger any hold-up in production must be deprecated. Everyone shouid be at their post if physically fit to be there. COURT IN TOWN HALL CONCERT CHAMBER CHARGE AGAINST STRIKERS NEXT MONDAY (P.A.) Auckland, March 18. Action has been taken by the Department of Labour against approximately 350 members of the Freezing Workers' Union, who ar? to be charged, in a Court to be held in the Town Hall concert chamber on Monday, with being parties to a strike. The summonses have been made out calling on defendants to appear in the Town Hall because the Magistrate’s Court could not accommodate all those charged. Defendants, who are all employees of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., will face charges similar to those against men who appeared before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., at the end of January. The charge reads that each “was party to a strike in that, being in th? employ nf R. and W. Hellaby. Ltd., did, with a number of other workers in th? same employment, partially discontinue such employment. contrary to the provisions nf the Strike and Lock-out Emergency Regulations, 1939. and Ihe Emergency Regualtions, 1939." One hundred and twenty-five men who were convicted on a similar charge in January will appear before Mr. Luxford on Friday for sentence. At the hearings the magistrate convicted each defendant and ordered him to com? up for sentence within 12 months if called on. He pointed out that, there was legal machinery for dealing with industrial disputes that th? men should have used. He also warned them that they would only be called on if they failed to work properly.