MEN CEASE WORK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 20, 3 November 1938, Page 5

MEN CEASE WORK

SIXTEEN HUNDRED INVOLVED. OTAHUHU RAILWAY WORKSHOPS NON-TRADESMAN EMPLOYED. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 2. Because labourers were employed on work which, it was contended, should be undertaken by boiler-makers, more than 1600 employees at the Otahuhu railway workshops ceased wqj'k to-day. This action was determined at a mass meeting during the lunch hour, and although the mep remained at the works throughout the afternoon, only the apprentices continued at their ordinary employment. The trouble is a development of an acute shortage of skilled boilermakers, which has been experienced at the workshops for a considerable time.

Fully a year ago differences arose between the boilermakers and the department in regard to the manning of certain jobs. At that time there was a stoppage of work, the men resenting the proposal of the department to employ labourers on ■ the machines • and other work which the boilermakers claimed should be performed by tradesmen only. The differences were adjusted at that, time; but jt, ip. understood that the shortage of tradesmen persisted. It was found necessary by the management this morning to assign two labourers. to work, in. the* boilermakers’ shop, and at 8.30 a.m.. the boilermakers held a meeting to consider the position. Representations were made to the management, the npgotiqtions • continuing until the, lunch hour, when no satisfactory settlement had been reached. At this stage the boilermakers decided to acquaint the whole staff, of more than 1600. employees,. wjßr.thb'position. A largely-attended mass meeting was held, and it was resolved’to cease work while certain discussions proceeded with the department. A committee representative of all'the shops was appointed to handle the matter in 1 dispute. With the approval of the men, a skeleton staff remained on duty to continue essential services. Several hundred apprentices were also not .affected, while members of the clerical staff, who are members of the Railway Officers’ Institute, continued their work. Shunters at the workshops were not affected. With the arrival of the night shift, of about 70 men, at 4 p.m., the position was explained to them, and they returned to their homes shortly after. THe Issues. Throughout the afternoon a strict measure of control was maintained at the entrance to the works. The idle men were not permitted to leave the ’yards without ' a . special permit from the management until shortly before 4 p.m., which is the usual hour for ceasing work. Similarly, no one was allowed to enter the works except by authority. Even a telegraph boy was closely questioned. However, there was a general exodus of the staff at 4 o’clock, workers’ trains for northern and southern suburbs leaving according to schedule shortly after. Within half an hour the works were practically deserted, and the few unusual 'traces of • excitement previously apparent subsided. Although no statement was issued, either by the men or the management, it is understood that the issues of the dispute involve the right of the. department to assign labourers to jobs at rates of wages below the standard payment to tradesmen in that particular shop. The boilermakers are understood! to have no objections to the promotion of laburers to this class oi work, so long as skilled men are not available. The men contend that the employment of a non-tradesman at rates below standard is tantamount, to an infringement of craft principles. Tlie unions covering the men involved in the dispute are the Boilermakers’ Union, the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, and the Amalgamated Spciety of Railway Servants. The committee appointed to-day includes representatives of each organisation, and. in,addition to the local negotiations, .union representatives in Wellington discussed the matters in dispute with executive officers of the department. , Progress 1 in the negotiations will not be known by tlie men until' to-morrow morning. They will assemble,... at. the workshops-at the usual hpur,,-and at a further mass meeting, the position -will be discussed iii‘ the light, of overnight., developments. " THE DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE MUST WORK UNCGNpiTIONALLi 7 . WELLINGTON, November 2. In a statement made in reply to inquiries this evening, the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said there would be no discussions until the men at Otahuhu had resumed work unconditionally. Subsequently the Government would determine its course of action.

MINISTER DISREGARDED. MEN WILL REMAIN OUT. ONLY THREE DISSENTIENTS. AUCKLAND, This Day. A meeting of 1600 employees at the Otahului Workshops this morning decided, with three dissentients, to remain on strike until their demands are met. Mil Sullivan’s statement that there would be no discussion until the men resumed work unconditionally v as considered and disregarded. Telegrams were read from Hutt, Christchurch, and Dunedin, stating that the Railway Workshops men would .support any decision reached by the

Auckland workers; The men for the most part to-day are sitting about at' the works, are in town, or at home waiting until they were paid. Owing to the smaller clerical staff the wages' will bo paid later than usual. WORK PROCEEDINGS. _ lIFIT RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. WELLINGTON, This Day. • Work is proceeding as usual at the Hutt Railway Workshops, and it is , thought unlikely there will he any action in sympathy with the strikers a.t OtahuhU.