THE MEAT STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1371, 23 February 1912, Page 8

THE MEAT STRIKE

WORKS OPEN TO-DAY. '' : •'-' TERMS OF SETTLEMENT. ' The strike at the meat works has been definitely settled, for tho men made no ditlicultics yesterday about accepting the terms agreed (o by their delegates attlio conference with the employers. AVork' will commence at both Ngahanranga and l'eloiie to-dny. At the conference on tho day previous the men's delegates had been rather anxious that work should not commence until next week, but at the mass meeting of the union the men declared for starting work at once. This arrangement suited the companies well enough, and immediately steps were taken to have stock on hand to keep the works running to-day. / • : ' Tho agreement has been entered into on condition that the union apply for and secure registration as an industrial union of workers under the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and that the agreement, is thereafter within a reasonable time filed by tho union with the Clerk of Awards nt Wellington as an industrial agreement. This, it is understood, was insisted upon by the companies.

The strike lias lasted for a fortnight. It has not cost the companies much in actual money, but it lias lost for them some valuable time. Tho men have severally been losers to the extent of two weeks' wages, which they cannot make up entirely this season. There, will be a rush now, and there may be some overtime to be worked, but it is very unlikely that in all the rest of the season they will be able to make up what they have lost. The men have lost something, and it is not clear that they have gained anything for it all. They went on strike because the companies refused to grant one of their demands—that the ordinary working day.be between 8 a.m. and o p.m., and that all work done outside those hours be paid for at overtime rates. At tho conference preceding the strike tho companies offered to recognise the principle of overtime, after the men had worked any eight hours in tho 24, and lo pay for such overtime at the rate, of time and a quarter. Before the second conference which settled the strike could lake place the men had to abandon their claim for the 8 to 5 day. They had previously agreed to the time and a quarter overtime rate, and they accepted the companies' offer regarding when it should lie payable. Another important point which wits seriouslv in dispute was that of preference to unionists. The very stringent clause which the union submitted was not accepted by the employers, and the clause now embodied in the agreement grouts a much more modest measure of preference. The pay of freezing chamber hands employed at discharging was also a matter which led to some discussion. The union insisted that the men should be paid overtime for this work, but the employers objected that the rate pan! was really an overtime rate in consideration of the fact that the work is usually done at night. The companies again sustained their objection. Question was ribrd also about the employment of lj-.y* The union asked that the i-itio be one boy to ten men. The proportion agreed upun is one bov (o every three men. Ml that'the union have gained hey obtained without the slightest dimeul.y from the employers in conference, and it is extremely probable that they could have obtained all the concessions they Inve now sicnrcd without recourse to the strike method, which apparently has won nothing for them. •,,,,-, The agreement deals mainly with details as to wages and conditions for the many different classes of duties' of men in the works. Following is the text of a preference clause:— •■('reference of employment shall in the engagement of workmen be given to the union, provided so louj ,i< the rules of the union permit any pers.m of good character to join on payment of an entrance fee not exceeding ;»■, and on such subsequent occasion upon the written application of such person slating his desire to join the union; no ballot for election, and nothing eoniamed shall prevent the continued employment or reemployment of workers now in the employment of either employer, although such workers may not be or become members of the union; provided they are employed at the same class of work each' season. When members of the union and nou-members ore employed together, there shall be no distinction between member* and non-mem-bers, and both shall work together ill harmony, receiving equal pay for equal ivork." "