NO WORK TO-DAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 278, 5 September 1936, Page 9

NO WORK TO-DAY

CIVILIANS AT CALLIOPE DOCK. DEMAND FOR 40-HOUR WEEK. (Fer Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 4. About 100 civilian employees at the Calliope dock decided to-night not to return to work to-morrow morning. It is understood that this action was taken because no change has been made in the regulations governing their employment to reduce the hours of work in accordance with the intention of the Government’s recent legislation.

The men, who are employed on a casual basis at hourly rates, and include engineers, carpenters, shipwrights, and painters, have been working a 44-hour week, with work on Saturday. A meeting was held at lunch time, and the men decided to pi ess for a 40-hour week, with no work on Saturday. The manager of the dockyard communicated with Wellington in the afternoon, and explained the position to the men, pointing out that the regulations had not been modified, as the Government had not come to any decision on a reduction of hours of employees in small departments. After the manager’s explanation, the men held another meeting after work, and decided not to return to-morrow.

It is understood that the decision was taken on a show of Hands, and was unanimous. The manager stated that the dockyard would opening tomorrow for anyone who turned up. What the position would be if the men failed to report lor duty was not very clear. The special set of regulations under which the men were employed laid down what would happen to a man who left of his own accord, and he told the men that if they did not turn up, he would have no option but to consider that they had left on their own account.

The absence of civilian labour will not interfere with the docking of H.M.S. Dunedin, which is leaving her berth to make way for the Achilles, the new cruiser that is due on Sunday. This work will probably he carried out by naval ratings and employees of the Auckland Harbour Board.