DREDGE DEADLOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 282, 27 November 1940, Page 13

DREDGE DEADLOCK.

DISPUTE OVER HOLIDAY.

THIRTY MEN DISMISSED. (P.A.) GREYMOUTH, Tuesday. The Xgaliere gold dredge, one of the largest producers on tlie West Coast, has been idle «ince yesterday, when the men observed the King's birthday holiday. Thirty employees, comprising the whole crew except the watchman, yesterday received notices of dismissal, including a statement that there would be no re-engagement until a satisfactory agreement as to statutory holidays was reached. A clause in the dredge workers' award includes the King's birthday as a day on which wages payment is time and a-half, and as practically all dredges in the district do not work on such days the union contend* that the King's birthday is a statutory holiday without pay. Recently the 'Westland union, in consideration of several concessions, agreed to maintain minimum crews to operate dredges on statutory holidays, except Christinas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day, which are regarded as close holidays. At JCgahere no work was done on Labour Day and no action was taken by the company. The union contends that the position on the King'e birthday is exactly the same. An offer made by the union to-day that the men would resume provided they suffered no loss of wages had not been accepted by the company up till this evening. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, has been informed of the stoppage. He announced that he will arrange for an officer of the Labour Department to make an investigation, including tli e management's refusal to allow the workers to resume, but he stated that it would be necessary for work to be resumed.

In view of the management's attitude it is considered unlikely that an investigation can be made l>v a Labour Department officer. Mr. Webb is in touch with the company's officials in an effort to end the deadlock.