TROUBLE AT MEAT WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1941, Page 3

TROUBLE AT MEAT WORKS

TIMBER EMPLOYEES DOWN TOOLS INCREASE IN WAGES GRANTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 28. Thirty men employed in the boxmaking department and timber yard of Westfield Freezing Works who ceased work yesterday when their demand for an increase in wages was not immediately conceded by the management resumed work this afternoon. It is understood that they have been granted a slight increase in pay. The men sought to obtain an extra 3d an hour and when the early negotiations broke down they stopped work at noon and were idle for the remainder of the day and again this morning. The men are paid under the timber workers ’award and the secretary of the union, Mr F. Craig, and an officer of the Labour Department took part in the negotiations. The management in a statement said that the men ceased work at 1 10 a.m. yesterday and presented their demands. The firm offered a partial increase in wages, but this was not acceptable to the men, who, however, resumed work at 11 a.m. while conversations proceeded. No settlement having been reached by noon, the men refused to continue work.

The management stated that the action of the men- held up the manufacture of boxes required in connection with the canning of meat under Government orders, and the casing of certain frozen products.