Freezing Disputes Continue

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 16

Freezing Disputes Continue

(New Zealand Press Association)

NAPIER, March 11

Two overseas freighters, the Delphic and Canopic, will not now load lamb from the Whakatu freezing works, which have been idle since last Monday because of a dispute.

The Whakatu Freezing Workers’ Union claims a lockout exists at the works, but the management says it is an “illegal strike” because the men have collectively refused overtime without taking a secret ballot. • “The union considers that because of an ultimatum by the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Meat Company the men are not on strike but. have been refused work by the company and this we regard as a lockout,” said the union president (Mr R. Adams). He said the union executive had asked that representatives of the national body of

the union and the Federation of Labour be asked to mediate, but the company had refused “point-blank” to meet any of them.

Mr D. R. Little, general manager of the company which runs the works, said: “The refusal of overtime by the men collectively is a strike. As they have not taken a secret ballot in the union it must be an illegal strike” More than 600 men are involved.

Invercargill Dispute

Butchers at the Alliance Freezing Works, Invercargill, also refused work today in spite of a formula for a return to work agreed upon on Thursday with the Alliance company.

It was the fourth idle day at the works. Meanwhile in Waitara, beef butchers resumed work at Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Aust.) Ltd.’s freezing works after a dispute on Wednesday involving clothing.