Story: Strikes and labour disputes

Freezing workers’ stay-in strike, 1937

Freezing workers’ stay-in strike, 1937

Sleeping in hammocks strung up inside the cool store, freezing workers occupy their workplace in Westfield, South Auckland, in January 1937. New Zealand’s first ‘stay-in’ strike was inspired by similar actions in France. The workers at Westfield and several other plants objected to continuing to work 44-hour weeks for no extra pay after the introduction of the 40-hour week for most workers. They won a bonus after the government intervened.

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:

Mark Derby, 'Strikes and labour disputes - Wars, depression and first Labour government', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/20493/freezing-workers-stay-in-strike-1937 (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Mark Derby, published 11 Mar 2010, updated 1 Mar 2016