STILL A DEADLOCK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 23, 7 November 1938, Page 6

STILL A DEADLOCK.

AUCKLAND WATERSIDE DISPUTE. THE EMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDE. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November G. The waterfront deadlock at Auckland continues, but the men will meet again to-morrow to consider their position further. A meeting was held on Saturday, but no settlement resulted: In addition to the original vessels affected, the Wfcuana and the Kaimiro, the Marnaroa, which arrived from New Plymouth, was not worked. The dispute arose originally through the refusal of members of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union to handle cargo on the Union Company s ships Waiana and Kaimiro on Thursday, unless claims relating to a starting time and wages were settled. As a result work ceased on both vessels. The local disputes committee meeting which was held after the first incident failed to reach any agreement on the dispute, which originated on the Waiana and spread later to the Kaimiro. “The position is unchanged, and as soon as the men return to work and carry out the terms of their award their alleged grievances will be dealt with in a constitutional manner,” said Captain R. S. Lewis, chairman of the Stevedores’ Association, in an official statement. “The employers are breaking no agreement, although they are simply not requisitioning for any labour until the Waiana and Kaimiro are worked under the terms of the award. “If it is right for the union of workers to stop work as they please at certain jobs, contrary to the terms of their award, surely the union of employers also has right to say what work is to be carried out, and when. The patience of the employers is now exhausted. Their costs for waterfront work connected with the Auckland Watersiders’ Union in the last three years have increased by at least 75 to 8b per cent., and during that time the only working part in connection with the loading arid discharging of ships which has remained stationary so far as efficiency is concerned is the wharves. The ships have improved, as also have the wharf appliances in the matter of cranes. The shunting engines are better and the supervision of the staffs responsible for the loading and discharging of ships has been . materially increased,* which should not have been necessary if ail the men weie willing workers.

“Whatever may be the statements of union officials, the employers know that when all the workers are competent and willing, the operating of ships at the wharves can be carried out at a reasonable cost. The employers have previously stated, and reaffirm, that in their opinion a large percentage of the present members of the union are of the good old type and are prepared to give a good day’s work for a good day’s pay,’’ he concluded.