Belfast Works Idle When Men Walk Out

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 December 1948, Page 4

Belfast Works Idle When Men Walk Out

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night (P.A.) —As a protest against what was held to be an endeavour by the company to over-staff the works, all unionists employed at the Belfast freezing works of Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia) Ltd., refused to resume work after the 10 o'clock smoko today. About 200 men are involved and the works were idle for the rest of the day. The possibility of the trouble spreading to other North Canterbury works was not admitted by officials of the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union, but they said the circumstances leading to the action by the Borthwick workers were common to the industry in Canterbury. The secretary of the union, Mr. 11. G. Kilpatrick, said the union objected to the company’s proposal to begin a second chain of 35 men next Monday. The first chain began work on November 29 and in the first week the men worked only 30 hours, 4! hours being worked on Thursday an# four on Friday. No work was available yesterday and today the stock was 250 head short of a full day's kill. The South Island manager for Borthwicks, Mr. A. C. Wells, said the works had killed 10,000 lambs last week and expected to kill a further 10,000 this week an<Tsooo between the end of the week and Christmas. In view of these figures, said Mr. Wells, an extra chain would be needed as from Monday. Without the second chain the works could not possibly handle al! the stock offering before Christmas.