STRIKE OF DAIR? FACTORY HANDS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5279, 16 December 1946, Page 4

STRIKE OF DAIR? FACTORY HANDS

(Special to "Post") I

POSSIBLE THIS WEE MEETING CONVENEI FOR WEDNESDAYI

HAMILTON, Last Nif As the result of resoluti carried at a meeting of da factory workers in Frank on Friday night, there is serious possibility of a str in the Waikato and even f ther afield, on Thursd unless demands for new J rates and improved conditi are met. | Mr. W. M. Perry-, of Cambi chairman of directors of the Bj wood Dairy Company, and chaij of the South Auckland Dairy pj Employers' Association, has conl a meeting to be held in Hamiltl Wednesday to discuss the situal It was declared at the meetii unionists, which was convened ti secretary of the New Zealand J Workers' Union, Mr. L. D. b| son, "to discuss the reasons fj delay of the new award andl relevant matters," that the mei reached the conclusion that fj benefit of the industry as a I drastic action had to be taken ti vent further resignations of e| enced workers and to encJ others to come into the industil remain there. 3 • Resolutions were carried fj implementaticn of immediat« positive steps being taken to ifl "the untenable position" of 1 factory workers in the past. fl Sunday and Holiday Payl The existing statutory Sundfl holiday payments were discussB is thought that although thefl important they are subordin® other issues, and that the restfl of full penal rates as prescriB the Factory Act will not infl smooth out the present difficuB Mr. Robertson, when asked® ment on the position, said thafl as he was coneerned, the raatB sub judice, as it was before ttfl ciliation Council. S However, the chief anglesfl dispute in reality were very ofl h'ad been held in abeyance'9 count of the war and otheifl culties. The time had arrivedB some serious and earnest tW and practical help must he 9 taken for the betterment 9 industry and the country genB It was stated xat the meetiB conciliation proceedings haB | held in August and then poB I after two days to October 1.1 j ever, the union had asked forB [ ponement for a fortnight 9 j could not be arranged and 9 | to resume' the hearing before® mas had proved abortive. T9 ing* had now been postponedH ruary. 9 Employers' Offer 9 The employers offered an 9 | of 3/4 per week on a basic \v9 | of £5/1/8, with two cost (9 | bonuses. The present wa® j £5/11/9. I | Dissatisfaction was expr® j the conditions at present ex® , the industry, which it wQs sta® been brought about and accB ! by the apathy of tbe employe® ! Inquiry among the dairy m j in the Bay of Plenty showe® . a different attitude. Few 9 j were present at the Frankton* from this area and the men 9 j were still ignorant of what® j mands put forward on thei® really were, no details of ti® ■ having been furnished to br® , I One factory manager poi® • , that the first postponement® , j ciliation proceedins had be® ( at the request of the emploj® | resentatives, presumably to ■ the new guaranteed price to9 was going to be and the sec9 ppnement had been made® their bebalf, presumably 9 ' "which way the cat was 9 jump" on November 27. 9 j It was also declared that9 ; would be loth to strike in oH as they were patriotic oH realise that a very great®, pended upon the maintettan9 presfent high output this soa® Another official stated® ^ men in his factory would 9 ^ 1 out 'in any circumstances. 9 ^