ALL CANTERBURY WORKS ON STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 22 March 1947, Page 5

ALL CANTERBURY WORKS ON STRIKE

CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. Following the failure of the companies to increase the minimum weekly wages the workers in every freezing works in Canterbury — witli the exception oi • the Kaiapoi works which had finished killing for the day before the eniployei's' decision was known, and the Smithfield works vvhere the meeting was held late — went on strike thin afternoon. • About 1500 workers are aff'ected. This is the first general holdup for 10 years in the freezing industry in Canterbury. Although therehave been seetional holdups from tirne to time stopptiges of work in Canterbury were not frequent dm'ing the war. The last serious industrial disturbauce involving all the works was two years ago vvhere a "go slow" policy was followed over their minimum weekly age. Although the Ministcr of Labour (Hon. A. McLagan) offered to set up a Disputes Commit.tee under the Strikes and Lockouts Fmergency Regulations, he made it clear to the Canterbury Freezing Workers' Union through the officer in charge oi the Christchurch offiee of the Labour Department (Mr. S. E. McGregor) that the committee could only be forrned if all the parties first - agreed to abide by the decision of the committeo-. There is no possibility of a •settlement of the dispute over the' weekend and the eondition of the Minister's intervention will be placed before the workers when I'.hev assemble at the works at Belfast, Islington, Kaiapoi, Fairfield, Pareora and Smithfield at 8 a.m. on Monday for meetings. The temper of the workers is such that union' offieials today could not give the Minister a guarantee that any unfavourable decision would be accepted. The utmost gravity of the situation was emphasised in telegrams sent today on behalf of the companies to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. E. Cullen). Intervention by the Christchurch branch of the Labour Department followed, Mr. McGregor making a visit at 2.30 p.m. to the union 's offiee at the Trades Hall to express the eoncern of the Minister of Labour over the' development and to offer to establish a disputes committee. The freezing season is now at its peak and the strike has come at air awkward period, but as the feed position is good farm ers are not faced with great difficulty in holding stock on their farms.