NO WORK AT FACTORY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29500, 29 April 1961, Page 13

NO WORK AT FACTORY

Dispute About Wages Eighteen men employed in the manufacture of plasterboard at the Opawa factory of New Zealand Wallboards. Ltd., arrived at the factory yesterday morning but did .not commence work. After a spokesman had advised the manager (Mr M. J. Bridgman) that the men had the support of the Canterbury Carpenters’ and Plasterers' Union and the Canterbury District Council of the Federation of Labour in their dispute with the management over wages, the men quietly returned home. “It was all conducted in a quiet and friendly manner.” said Mr Bridgman yesterday. The men involved are the company’s entire manufacturing staff. although 10 other workers not involved are employed on maintenance. clerical, and scientific work. The company, which also has factories in Auckland and Wellington, has applied to the Court of Arbitration for the men to be included in a special award which is in operation at its other two factories. The union contends that the men should be operating under the provisions of the Canterbury and Westland Plasterers’ award, which covers similar workers in other factories in the district. Union Comment “No move was made by the company to seek exemption from the Canterbury award and widen the scope of the Auckland and Wellington agreement until the union claimed wages as provided for other workers in the district.'* said the secretary of the union <Mr F. L. Langley) yesterday. “A committee representing the men, the District Council of the Federation of Labour, and the union has been set up and is operating to win all the moral and financial support necessary until the company operates the provisions of the award.”

“We are standing firm and going the legal way with our claims.” said Mr Bridgman. “We have applied to the Court for an urgent hearing, and the directors are sticking to their guns and do not intend to be coerced.”

Mr Bridgman said that as soon as the factory had begun production in Christchurch about a month ago. application had been made to the Court of Arbitration for the Auckland and Wellington award to be extended to Christchurch.

"The position remains exactly the same.” said Mr Langley when asked to comment. “It is up to the employers to make the next move.”