WATERSIDERS STOP WORK

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21886, 12 September 1936, Page 15

WATERSIDERS STOP WORK

DISPUTE AT AUCKLAND RESUMPTION AFTER FEW HOURS (P&SSS ASSOCIATION TEUEGSAif-) \ AUCKLAND, September 11. For the third time within a week cargo operations on the Auckland waterfront were held, up to-day through the action of waterside workers. They refused to unload cargo from the British motor-ship Ashburton this morning, although work was begun on the vessel in the afternoon, and as an indirect result, cargo on the Shaw, Savill, and Albion liner, Tamaroa gould not be unloaded. Another sequel was the temporary delay in work on the Federal line steamer Surrey. The week of sporadic stoppages in waterside work began last Friday, when the men refused to work after 5 p.m. This affected the Matson Line vessel Monterey, the Port Line steamer Port Hunter, the Port Line motor-ship Port Hobart, and the Union Company’s steamer Waipiata. On Thursday night and to-night waterside workers refused to work overtime on the Union Company’s chartered steamer Narbada. Officials of the Waterside Workers’ Union refuse to comment on the matter or to furnish any reason for the men’s action. The Ashburton arrived from New York on Wednesday afternoon, discharging operations beginning on Thursday morning and continuing until 10 p.m. Because of a shortage of union labour, a number of non-union men had to be employed. In accordance with the award the non-union men had to be replaced with union members this morning if possible. Waterside worKers had taken off the hatches preparatory to unloading more cargo this morning, when it was learned that a member of the union had been refused engagement. The men then left the vessel, stating they would not continue work because of the employers’ action. The men working on the Surrey were informed of the dispute and stopped work, but when they learned the nature of the trouble they resumed. Particulars of the dispute wer* communicated to Wellington and the Ship Owners’ Federation issued instructions that no more waterside labour be engaged af Auckland until work on the Ashburton had been continued. The men who went ashore from the Ashburton refused the request to begin work again, but altered their decision later and resumed at 1.30 p.m. As a resujt of this dispute, several gangs of men who would have been engaged to unload the Tamaroa, which arrived from London at noon, were not called upon.

Calls for labour on the waterfront are made only between 8 am. and 10.30 am., and the dispute was not settled in time for calls to be made. Consequently no work was done on the vessel. The Narbada arrived from Calcutta and other eastern ports last Saturday and unloading was begun on Monday morning. Overtime work was not necessary on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, but waterside workers refused to work on the vessel after their tea hour when requested to do so on Thursday and to-day.

REFUSAL TO WORK

TODAY

DOCKYARD EMPLOYEES CONTINUE PROTEST

(PKESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND. September 11.

Following a meeting after work had ceased at the usual time, the civilian employees at Calliope dock were addressed this afternoon by officials of several unions, and decided not to work to-morrow morning. The men, numbering more than 140, refused to work last Saturday, because no change had been made in the regulations governing their employment toward reducing the hours of work, and it is understood that to-day’s decision is a continuation of the protest The men. including engineers, carpenters, shipwrights, and painters, are employed on a casual basis at hourly rates. They have been working a 44-hour week, with work on Saturdays. No action was taken against them when they reported for duty as usual last Monday morning, the work continuing as if no contretemps had occurred. It had ‘ been explained to the men that the regulations had not been modified, as the Government had not reached any -decision, about a reduction of hours as it affected small departments. The manager of the dockyard. Mr G. McCloghrie, said to-night that no action could be taken until .instructions were received from the Minister for Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The dock would be open for any of the men who wished- to work. He understood the men had received a telegram to the effect that the Minister desired them to carry on as usual in the meantime. TROUBLE ON WELLINGTON WATERFRONT VESSEL’S DEPARTURE DELAYED (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, September 11. Because of a dispute with waterside workers, little work was done to-day on the coastal steamer Holmdale. The ship was expected to arrive early yesterday afternoon, and the employers nominated labour for 1 p.m. When there was no sign of the vessel in the early afternoon, the nomination was cancelled and the men were reengaged at 7.45 a.m. to-day, but before starting work they demanded payment for a two-hour minimum yesterday. The employers refused, and the men then refused to work. Negotiations during tne morning resulted in the men beginning work at 1.30, but later, when overtime was called, for, -they refused to work after 5 p.m. The ship’s departure for Picton and Wanganui has been postponed till to-morrow.