A UNION'S TROUBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 82, 7 April 1913, Page 7

A UNION'S TROUBLES.

VICTIMISATION ALLEGED. WATERSIDE WORKERS ASKED TO ASSIST. STATEMENT BY COMPANY COXCEE'NED. Industrial trouble would seem to be pending at tke present time in regard to the Warkwortl) Cement Workers' Union, and the suggestion that the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union should join in the issue led to a meeting of the latter union being held yesterday morning. Thu advertisement calling the union meeting stated that the business was "To decide what action the union would tuke in securing justice to the officers ami members of the Warkworth Cement Workers" Union., who are allegedly victimised because their ideas of unionism do not coincide with those of the employers."

Yesterday's meeting of the Waterside Workers" Union was well attended. The position as explained to members was that there had been an attempt to force the Warkworth Union back to registration under the Arbitration Court, instead of remaining, as at present, a union affiliated with the Federation of Labour. It was stated that the secretary of the union, Mr. Pike, had received more than one threatening anonymous letter, indicating dire pains and penalties if the union did not secede from the Federation. A proposal had been brought forward in favour of again registering the Warkworth Union under the Act, and it was agreed that a ballot should be taken. In order that the. ballot should lie carried out to the thorough satisfaction of all concerned, a local Justice of the Peace vvas asked to carry out the voting arrangements, and independent scrutineers, not associated with cither side, were appointed. The result of the hallot was a decision by 97 votes tn 17 to remain loyal to the Federation. The position,, as further explained to yesterday's meeting, was that victimisation followed. Forty employees of the company, including the secretary of the union, were dismissed, the company stating that slackness of trade warranted ;i reduction in the working staff. Trade revived, and, according to the statements made at yesterday's meeting, it was then that trouble occurred. The company put on more men. and, instead of tiikini: back those originally dismissed, scoured the district for old employees who had in the meantime gone farming, llciuc the trouble which had arisen. The meeting discussed the position at length, and, it was suggested that it the facts us supplied to the Waterside 'Workers' Union were true, the union should immediately take action by refusing to handle sny material brought from the company's works at Warkworth to the (Auckland -wharves. After discussion it was resolved that Mr. E. Canham, on •behalf of the union, should proceed to Warkworth to-day, and there thoroughly investigate the whole of the circumstance;. When Mr. Canham's report is available the local union will decide upon what course of action it will follow.

A SURPBISE FOR THE COMPANY

V NAWAKE OF ANY TROUBLE.

The company's viewpoint was obtained <hi< morning by a '•Star" representative from the manager (Mr F. W. Wilso-n). Mr Yt'ii;?on declared that the announce-, meutrif any trouble at Wurkworth came a= anr "absointe surprise to him. The position was evidently misunderstood, ami it was equally evident that there had heen a great deal of misrepresentation. Amongst all the cement companies trsde had lately been somewhat slack, and nt Warkworth it became necessary to shorten hands. In fact, during the b!iu!c 'period, only one rotary kiln was woiiiii". as against three ordinarily. Altogether, some 44 men had to be paid off. "There had. however, never bliaiilcrst intention of victimisation. The' secretary o-f the union and another of tJiv i.itli-ials had been amongst those paid oil. The company had not picked these men out specially because of their positions —they had simply gone ia their turn when the time arrived for reducing the working staff. In reinstating the men. as trade conditions warranted, there was absolutely no favour shown, beyond n preference for men living in the pla-ce and possessing a knowledge of the busines-s. For some time past the men had been working under an agreement with the coir.pu.ny, and the company -was perfectly satisfied with the manner in tvhich the agreement was carried out. N«» complaint had reached them from the men, and they, irj turn, had no complavrffc to make to the union. In fact, the company had been surprised exceedingly wiUen they first.heard of the victimisation charges on Saturday last. Those drarges, added Mr Wiisony were, -so fax as he knew, absolutely without foundation. Th-e company had not victimised anyone, or made any effort to force the union into registration under the Arbitration Act.