STRIKE LIKELY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3556, 30 October 1926, Page 2

STRIKE LIKELY

FREEZING WORKS TROUBLE,

MONDAY A FATEFUL DAY.

Napier, October 29,

II is now beyond doubt that trouble is brewing between freezing works employees and the owners, and though neither side has any official pronouncement to make, if seems very unlikely that the Hawke’s Bay works will be manned by I heir usual employees when they open for the season, on Monday. Reports from various parts indicate that if a strike eventuates it is likely to be general, or almost so, and that the workers, or those who are leading them, are determined to stand to their claims for higher wages.

The butchers are. claiming 10 per cent, increase, and other freezing works employees one penny an hour.

Unionists in Hawke’s Bay are without doubt far from unanimous in supporting extreme action. In fact a large proportion are opposed to the strike. It seems that matters have been taken out of the hands of the local branch, and that the workers will merely have to follow where they are led. In other words, a strike will be thrust upon them.

Mr J. 11. Jolt, prsident of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, had nothing to say when asked what were the prospects for the use of free labour in the event of a strike. Nevertheless, it is known that for some months the farmers have been organising to meet anv such contingency, and it is understood that they feel abundantly confident of being able to overcome any inconvenience that the strike, however wide its ramifications, may he likely to impose upon the business community.