STRIKE AT WAIROA

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1917, Page 5

STRIKE AT WAIROA

INCONSIDERATE SLAUGHTERMEN. LEAVE COMPANY IN LURCH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A strike occurred at the Wairoa freezing works to-day. Whilst the men were being paid at one o'clock a worker informed the manager of the company Lliat he had been appointed delegate for the slaughtermen's assistants. They demanded 1/0 for general hands, the fame as at Gisborne and Hawke's Bay works. After pay. the manager met the men, who had then ceased work, and informed them that he had information to pay here an exactlj similai rate, but as they considered the rate there was ]•/(! per hour he would give this for that afternoon, so the work could continue, and he would be enabled meantime to get into communication with the various freezing work's. If lie found the rate paid elsewhere to be 1/0 this would be paid from now onward. Further, that the pay would be retrospective from the commencement of killing. The men decided they would not accept the offer, and that u definite statement of 1/6 per hour for the future must be given. They demanded immediate attention, failing whicli they would stop work. The manager stated that as this was the first intimation given he was not prepared without consideration to make a promise for the future. Under agreement with freezing works in Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay general hands received 1/3 per hour, plus 1 1 / ad war bonus. The men walked out of the slaughterhouse, leaving the sheep hanging on tile rails without a moment's notice, thus throwing out the rest of the workers. There are over four thousand sheep in the yards, for which it is difficult to find accommodation. The engineers are loyal to tha company.