ONE AWARD WANTED

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 16

ONE AWARD WANTED

F.O.L Support Sought

The New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Association yesterday adopted a resolution that the Federation of Labour and the association’s general secretary (Mr F. E. McNulty) take all possible steps to oppose the ratification of any individual shed awards. The association decided on this action at its annual conference in Christchurch, because it felt that such ratification would be against the interests of 13,000 freezing workers employed at the other 32 works in New Zealand. In the event of their being more than one award in the freezing industry, the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Association would consider making representation to the Government for a separate wage-fixing authority for the industry. Mr McNulty said at the end of the conference that the association viewed with concern the negotiations which had taken place between the New Zealand Refrigerating Company and the Wanganui Freezing Workers’ Union for a separate award to cover the company’s workers at Imlay, Wanganui. “We consider that the employers’ action in agreeing to separate negotiations for Wanganui, can only be designed to undermine present wages and conditions and must lead to industrial disharmony and conflict in our industry,” said Mr McNulty.