INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1920, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

THE OHUTU STRIKE.

MEN'S TERMS REJECTED.

BOX COMPANY CLOSE MILL,

3y Telegraph-—Press Association

Taihape, Last Night. The members of the King Country Sawmill and Timber Workers' Union at v the Ohutu box mill, submitted their final demand to the owners this morning. They are willing to resume work on the following conditions: (1) That the. employers recognise their union; (2) that the employers' representatives agree to meet the union's representatives to discuss and draw up a scale of wages and conditions for the ensuing twelve months; (3) that the conference sit not later than the seventh day from the resumptian of work.

The above demands were not acceded to by the company, and the mill is closed indefinitely. The employers contend that as the award was made as recently as August 23 last, and as the union is not constitutionally registered and will not register under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, no lasting good can result from further conferring, so the mill has been closed, and the men have received notice to quit the cottages.

ATTITUDE OF MINE-OWNERS. Wellington, Dee. 14. The Mine-owners' Association has informed the Miners' Federation that it cannot;consider the demand for an immediate increase of 25 per cent in wages, on the ground that the national agreement stipulates that neither rates of pay nor bonus shall be altered during the terms of the agreement, which has not yet expired.

FREEZING WORKERS' CLAIMS. Wellington, Dec. 14. The reduction of the cost of living bonus from "9s to 3s it is anticipated in some quarters will be the means of solving the difficulty between the freezing works employers and the employees. It is understood the freezing works have ro-opened their first offer of 20 per cent. to piece workers and 22J per cent to hourly and weekly workers.