DAIRY WORKERS' WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1628, 20 December 1912, Page 8

DAIRY WORKERS' WAGES.

.'AN INCIPIENT STRIKE.

Several week 9 ago the majority of the casual hanJs-employed'in cheese-niakmg at the Kaapokonui factory and branches, according to ;he Hftwera "Star.-" addressed a round robin, circular, to-the-directors, demanding a rise iu wageg from £2 ss. to £2 10s per .week, otherwise they.threatened to strike. \ After .signing the circular a number .of ; the men regretted." their. actions, and. wrote the directors asking that their .names. be. withdrawn from tho notice. "•• Their apology was accepted, but tho whole of the rest of the employees signing the circular, were dismissed. ..The men were'met'by tho chairman'and manager, who ■ pointed out that, the men in Taranaki were getting now 3s. weekly rpore.-than the Wellington award expiring in a year's time, and ss. more than thelast Taranaki award, which expired a year ago. It was also pointed out that, several of their number had beeirinarkea off-for promotion, but they hod now. thrown awiy their opportunity by loyalty:- No doubt tho men were misled by one or two.of their leaders, and were ill-advised in not consulting , the directors in a, proper manner. They might havo known, ibo, that' a strike to affect a dual factory is'almost nn, impossibility, as the directors could ■turn-to butter at a days notices and would '■■ then only require a total of-20 men instead of, 50 while cheesemaking "and. the 20 men were • always available, counting tho managers and first and second assistants." As.showing that there is no. shortage of men, the company advertised' for men and received over l>o applications-within 48 hours; indeed, the vacancies were: filled -within,24 hours of insertion and practically before the men were dismissed. ' v - ' -.. .... ...