FREEZING WORKERS’ GRIEVANCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2186, 9 May 1908, Page 2

FREEZING WORKERS’ GRIEVANCES.

DEMAND FOR INCREASED PAY.

A PROSPECTIVE STRIKE,

Pross Association. DUNEDIN, May 8. The employees of the Burnside freezing works, tho property of tho Christchurch Meat Company, have for some time past been dissatisfied with the rate of pay boing given to them. About Novomber last the men were informed, it is stated, that they would recoive the same rate of pay as was made the subject of the award of tho Christchurch freezing works, namely, Is 3d for ordinary tune of 8 hours a day, and Is 5d for overtime. Ino season was commenced on January 28, but it is alleged that tho company has declined to giv6 more than Is per hour for ordinary time and Is ljd tor overtime, lb is further alleged that the pay to outside hands was reduced from Is to llid per hour after putting in about one month’s work, the result being general dissatisfaction. The inen affirm that the demands for an increaeo have met with point-blank refusal, and the employees, numbering seventeen in all, have intimated to tho management that unless their wishes are acceded to they will cease work at 12 o’clock to-morrow (Saturday), and will not return until such time as they get what they aro asking for. It is stated by the men that in reducing outside hands to llid per hour, the company has brought them under tho manure workers award, which the men contend the company is not justified in doing.