SLAUGHTERMEN’S STRIKE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 30, 4 February 1913, Page 3

SLAUGHTERMEN’S STRIKE

PROSPECTS OF RE-STARTING WITH FREE LABOUR. (Per Press AasooiatioE.) Christchurch, February 3. The two Canterbury freezing companies—the Canterbury Frozen Meat' and Dairy Produce Co., and the Christchurch Meat Co.—have decided to call for applications from expert slaughtermen and from learners to 'man the killing boards at their works. The full text of the notice issued by the companies is as follows: “This company is willing to receive applications from expert slaughtermen and I learners to commence work on a date to be hereafter specified. Priority of employment will be given in order of . application, the rate to be 27s 6d per 100. Learners will be granted a minimum wage of 16d peh hour, until capable of learning more than that by piecework. The full .terms and conditions of employment can be seen at the works, or at this office.”

WELLINGTON OBDUEITE. Wellington, February 3. The position of the deadlock between the meat freezing companies and the slaughtermen remains unaltered, both sides, so far as Wellington is concerned, apparently awaiting developments. THE CANTER BLEY UNION. i _ Christchurch, February 3. The Canterbury Slaughtermen’s Union met to-night, but the meeting was, not open to reporters. At the conclusion the secretary communicated the following report:—The meeting was largely attended, and representatives were present from the freezing 1 works at Fairfield, Smith field * am! Paeroa. It was resolved that the * Union make a firm stand for 30s per] hundred. It was further reported, that a majority of the men have got, employment at harvesting, uavvying, | and so on, and it is their present in-! tention to remain at that class of work; The reporter asked if any resolution! was arrived at with reference to cm-1 ploymeut by the companies of free labour. The secretary replied that | there was nothing to report under that I head. He was also asked if any ar~| rangements had been made for pick- j eting, and replied that the Union did | ! not work in that way. AT THE KAJ.TI WORKS. Gisborne, February 3. A full meeting of slaughtermen today discussed the dispute in the new aspect of “scab” labor at Kaiti works, j and decided to send a deputation to j wait on the Freezers’ Union, prob- | ably with the idea of asking the freez-! | ers to come out in sympathy. WANGANUI FIRM. i * ■■ ' Wanganui, February 3. * The managing director of the Wanganui Meat Freezing Company states | that the company has received a numi her of spontaneous offers of assistance, j The directors held a meeting this : morning, and. unanimously decided i j that immediate steps be taken to en-' 1 gage labour for the works, giving pre- j | ference to old employees. The com-' j pany intends using its best endeavour I | to re-open the works within the next; I few days, and the managing director | ! feels certain it will be successful in' 1 doing so. HASTINGS STILL FIRM. Hastings, February 3. ! The position in regard to the slaughtermen's strike, insofar as it concerns the local works, is unchanged. Messrs Borthwick and Sons, Pakipaki, have not received any applications for places on the killing board, and the works have closed down in the meantime. Applications for “hooks” at Tomoana are coming in freely, and it is anticipated that the works will reopen on Wednesday morning with a full board. The rate of pay will be the same as offered the men who went out

on strike, viz., 27s 6d per 100.. Should these anticipations be realised,slaughtering will be resumed on Wednesday, arid the necessity of dispensing with the services of the hands in other departments will be obviated. Questioned by a reporter, one of the strikers said that they had no intention of going back on their demands, and wijl fight to,the bitter end. Referring to the proposal of the companies to man the board with free | labor, the apeakers said that the firms might be satisfied with their work, but he doubted if the farmers would put ‘up with it very long.

(.'O.VFEREXCF AT WA IT AJR A A conference was ■ held at' Waitara yesterday between the management of .Messrs Mortlnviek’s works and the butchers, and proved abortive, tinlatter turning down the oiler made them. The old butchers arc not wp-

ing ■ back. Mic following statement of tJuj position has been supplied for publication by tho firm— In connection with the present disagreement betwoeu ourselves and our mutton and beef slaughtermen at Waitara works, it may he of interest to tho public to know what those men" are earning, and, further, what they are demanding. Last season, working 2b consecutive weeks, the inutt-on men averaged £5 8s each, or, roughly, £l4O for half a. year’s work.: These

men demand a 20 per cent, increase and we have offered them a. 10 pei • (lit. increase. Our beef men earned last season, for 28 consecutive . ( weeks, £<s ,5s 6d each per week, or, roughly, £230 each for slightly over half a year’s work. Those men de- , ;i r 5 per cent, increase, or that they shall earn about £275 for half a year’s work. Incidentally they al- , so demand to be paid 5s each for bulls export-dressed. Now, a competent U man can reasonably put through 16 in a day, and his earnings f or that day would , be £4 for seven to eight hours work. The present rate is 2s each. No offer of an increase of any sort has been made to the beef men. Ihese are their demands as regards pay. The new conditions are equally impossible of conceding. Overtime rates of time and a half are asked fqr work done between; seven and eight in the morning, and ,as the basis of pay is piecework, it is hard to conceive, with the men fresh, what proportion of the day’s work they might get through in that hour. Thus they ask that the day .shall start with overtime. Wo at present give preference, but not .in the uqlinpted fashion which they demand. Under their clause the .u.nion might beiyimea close corporation,, having : .fh ft liberty to impose any entrance lev, .am! to blackball at will, f( summarising matters, it is found, that the conditions demanded are impossible, and the pay asked for unreasonable. Last season was ,ia fair,.average one, and does rightly indicate their earnings for many seasons past. In the case | of the beef men, . when we ■, bought j these works-fill hoisting was done with i a hand winch/ but-w, installed ndoeii icity to do this, thus obviating anv heavy work. ’At Waitafa p V |T m > n all live around I lie works, and have not, as ;if most works, to travel bv train to and from (he-factory, wasting, both time and money.