THE FREEZING WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 153, 24 March 1919, Page 8

THE FREEZING WORKERS

DISPUTES IN SUSPENSE. . ' %'. During recent weeks eeveral stoppages ..liavo occurred at freezing works in vari;..,pus. parts'.of New Zealand', Several <lishave' given rise to lhe.se stoppages/but it appear.? that all the points 'am noff to Ijo held over pending the con- . : ;i'erence that has been arranged to take .'place in Wellington on April 21, when . :: ',the representatives of the freezing com.'■''p'anips'will meet the. delegates of the -;. 'itcetiHy-forined Freezing Works I'wlera- : tion. This bodj - 'comprises all sections -•of freezing factory employees. ; V".The freezing workers received their . liiat increase of wages ,in !Novem'ber, . : wjien they iyere granted an all-round in- .- . crease,.of 5 .pejr cent., with a. promise . . that a' confprence..would lie held'.ljßtwe.en April ,and August of tliis.year ..with the 'object of framing a- Dominion :'■award. ■'■'''' Since then the men employed "at-the ] Whakatanß worka have received an in- ■■'. ■'. crease over, and above thfi 5 per cent. '■' auo: thi? extra increase is 6tated to hhye been the' prime cause of the stoppage last .week at the..W.cstfield. works,, where. ' ■tKHiiieu:;demanded '%■ siinjlar advance; '/--■ Some trouble occurred at the Pareora and Sniithfield freezing works, near Tiinani, last weeli. The butchers are re- - quiired to attach a tag to each carcai3, • the object of tho tag being"to, enaWe . the authorities to tell-in.caee of.faults .'C-who killed any particular sheep/ .The men do not consider that they should be called upon to attach these tags to /the carcassg.%.and said they.-die not in,tend to do it. The companies, say that ■ the butchers must -Yohtiuiie to : attach these tags, as 'iir-tHo-TpiiStf , This ques- ;■ ion is still 'being disputed atthe south- ' em works, but; no stoppage is expected to be caused. ; i '■•. ..-. ■'•■■', ( .