THE FREEZING INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 57, 1 December 1920, Page 8

THE FREEZING INDUSTRY

MEN NOT SATISFIED WITH BONUS OFFERED. The freezing industry of the Dominion is being held up owing to the refusal of the union allied to the Freezing Workera' Federation to accept the bonus offered them by the Associated Freezing Companies. The position is serious, as ifhe action of the unions is delaying' the opening of the killing season. A statement on the position from ■ the standpoint of the companies was published in yesterday's issue, and during the day Mr. F. J. Niall, general secretary of tho Freezing Workers' Federation, said: "Tho deadlock has been brought alxnn by tho freezing companies. 'I hey made an offer in October of 20 per cent, increase for piece-workers and 22i per cent, for hourly and weekly trades, both on- award rates. This was refused by the men all over New Zealand. The freezing companies held a further conference among themselves this month, and stated thaii they were willing to meet the' representatives of tho mon in conference, providing that the matter of increased wages was not. discussed, but only the quos'ion of a three-monthly review. The federation pointed out to the freezing com pan is that while it was prepared to discuss three-monthly reviews it also desired a further discussion regarding wages. The companies absolutely refused to agree. A 6 tflie basis for argument was not wide enough the federation decided that a further conference, with the discussion limited as proposed, would be a waste of time. Tho onus of calling a further conference is on the companies." By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, November 30. Tho opening of the slaughtering season, which was to have taken place to-morrow, has been postponed pending n settlement of the dispute between tho freezing companies anil the employees.