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Story: Agricultural processing industries

Strikes in the works

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Strikes in the works

Meat processing was traditionally one of the most strike-bound industries. At Westfield, South Auckland, in 1937, freezing workers went on strike but stayed in the building – stringing up hammocks to sleep in. This was New Zealand’s first ‘stay-in’ strike, and it was successful. The workers were objecting to increased working hours with no extra pay. After the government stepped in, they won a bonus.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Herbert Otto Roth Collection (PAColl-4920)

Reference: PAColl-4920-3-5-02

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jane Tolerton, Agricultural processing industries – Freezing works, 1880s to the 1970s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/25190/strikes-in-the-works (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Jane Tolerton, published 6 April 2010.