Brewery strike but storemen wait

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 1

Brewery strike but storemen wait

Brewery workers throughout New Zealand yesterday went on strike in retaliation against suspensions.

Workers at the Lion Brewery in Christchurch imposed a load-out ban, but supplies of draught, bottled, and canned beer in the city are expected to last until Easter. The breweries have begun suspending brewery workers because, they say, there is no longer normal work available because of a strike by members of the Stationary Engine Drivers’ Union over a claim for an Bc-an-hour disability allowance. The Brewery Workers’ Union resolved in 1976 to strike if its members were suspended under the new legislation providing for suspensions as normal work runs out. Under previous legislation companies had to give notice before suspending workers.

Production staff at the D.B. Brewery at Washdyke were suspended on Thursday, but supplies of D.B. draught beer from Washdvke are expected to last until next Thursday.

It was reported last evening that the parties to the Breweries strike have agreed to meet before a Government Conciliator on Monday. The strike will continue in the meantime. Whether the Government uses the law to wipe an industrial agreement will hinge on a meeting on Monday of storemen and representatives of freight-forwarding companies.

The agreement was for a 15c-an-hour allowance to handle dangerous goods. A deputation led by the Employers’ Federation’s executive director (Mr J. W. Rowe) yesterday convinced the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) to delay regulations cancelling the agreement until after Monday morning’s meeting.

Mr Bolger waited more than three hours to announce his decision. He decided on the delay only after getting assurances from the companies and the Federation of Labour that no part of the agreement would be implemented before Monday. It is believed that the companies have agreed not to pay the allowance.

In another industrial dispute, Canterbury refrigerated truck drivers will meet on Monday to decide whether to continue their strike in support of an extra week’s leave. Drivers in other parts of New Zealand met yesterday and will return to work from midnight on Sunday. The drivers’ representatives will meet employers next week to discuss their claim, which is to compensate drivers for irregular hours of work. The employers have offered one day’s leave for each 25 nights a driver is away from home.