Freezing workers see ‘way out of mess’

Press, 7 February 1986, Page 3

Freezing workers see ‘way out of mess’

PA Hamilton Giving workers shares in freezing companies has been put forward as one solution to the problems facing the meat industry. The secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union at Horotiu, Mr Graham Cooke, said that his members would like a halfshare in the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Cooperative, which could have benefits for all. “The present Government has to give some proposals to the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board on setting up a producer-owner company to handle its commercial operations,” he said. “A producer-owner-worker co-operative a constructive means or

motivating all those involved in the industry to get it out of the mess it is in,” he said.

Mr Cooke said his union wanted a half-and-half share deal, or a 51-49 per cent weighting in favour of the present owners at Horotiu. The worker shareholding could be built up over a number of years, with workers possibly taking increased shares instead of wage rises in poor trading years, he said. Industrial relations at the plant would greatly improve if workers were given a say in management, he said. “Freezing workers have to be part of the industry, not just servants to the industry, otherwise

‘them and us’ syndrome will continue to permeate the working environment,” he said. “If we do have shares we can pin for someone on the board of directors. Thus we would have a bigger say in what is going on,” Mr Cooke said. Farmers’ groups he had spoken to about the idea of worker shares had been “open-minded,” with some definitely in favour. He said A.F.F.C.O. management had given the idea a lukewarm response and had pointed to legal problems in changing company ownership structures.

“The company says it is impossible to do that. But if I keep pressing, it is hoped that things will change,” he said.