STAY-IN STRIKE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 115, 13 April 1940, Page 6

STAY-IN STRIKE

longburn works. SEQUEL TO DISMISSAL. As a sequel to the dismissal of an employee, yesterday, the men at the Longburn freezing woiks aie at present staging a stay-in strike declining to resume work until a settlement of the dispute is reached. Both the management and the men veie loath to make a statement this mornimr but the manager (Mi J. I- lvo ßcison) stated that the dispute arose out of the dismissal of a man who. it was aliened had been found in the possession of’a liver after warnings had been given that the practice of taking livers from the works must cease. Immediately after the development of the dispute, about noon yesterday, the men ceased work, but cleaned up the works in the late afternoon. However, they decided that, pending a satisfactory outcome, they would not leave the premises, and a stay-in stiike was commenced. None of the men, so far as is known, left the works overnight, anu this morning, when an “Evening Standard” representative visited the works, pickets were oil t le main gates. It is understood that arrangements have been made to continue the picketing until midnight at least, and possibly longer ii a settlement is not reached. RETICENCE OBSERVED. While strict reticence was observed bv the men, who said they had decided to make no statement to the 1 ress until the trouble had been' settled, and Mr Rogerson was not inclined to comment at length on the situation, ho stated that arrangements had been made for a disputes committee to meet, probably this afternoon. Hie personnel was not known this morning, but the committee would comprise three representatives each of the management and the employees, and would he presided over by an independent chairman. It is understood that yesterday afternoon the men were addressed by Mr Thompson, an executive officer from the union headquarters at Wellington. Mr Thompson remained in. the city overnight, and he was expected to return to Longburn during the 'Em ' ~ , This morning there was evident a mutual desire that the dispute he settled early, and hopes were held out ot work being resinned in a comparatively short time. In the meantime the works were idle, but it was learned there was no danger of deterioration of any or the slaughtered carcases on'hand.