EMPLOYERS' ULTIMATUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 36, 10 February 1917, Page 6

EMPLOYERS' ULTIMATUM.

THREAT TO USE FREE XABOUR. IGNORED BY THE UNION. (By Telegraph.—Frees Association). •WELLINGTON, Friday. The Citizens' Defence Committee tonight cent the following letter to the secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers* Union: " Owing to the action of the Wanganui Waterside Workers' Union in refusing to work under the conditions prescribed by the industrial agreement in operation at that port, the employers are compelled to secure outside labour to discbarge and load the John, Breeze and Putiki vessels. The John, Breeze, and Putiki hhve now arrived at Wellington, hut although calls have been made upon members of the Waterside Workers* Union at Wellington to discharge their cargoes, no response has been made, sad the vessels are consequently lying idle at this port. I have now to'notify you that a call for labour for these chips and also for the Kapiti, will again be made at 7.45 a-.m. to-morrow (Saturday), and in the event of members of your union still maintaining their attitude of declining engagement to work these vessels under the terms of the existing award, and in view of the circumstances which necessitated vessels being loaded by free labour in Wanganui and of the fact that the Wanganui Watereide Workers' Union is one jf the units of the Waterside Workere' Federation, employers who are parties to the agreement have decided that no further calls be made upon your members for any work on the Wellington waterfxonti, except for essential services, until the difficulty with regard to the Wanganui steamers has been adjusted by your union to ttte satisfaction of employers. As, however, the trade of the port cannot be delayed indefinitely, I am instructed to inform you that unless work is proceeded with in the ordinary way to-morrow morning (Saturday), etepe will be taken to secure labour from other sources." The Waterside Workere' Union replies to the Citizens' Defence Committee's letter that the union has no knowledge of any such organisation as the Wellington Employers, Farmers and Citizens' Defence Committee. "We do not think it advisable to deal with a committee composed of persons who are unknown to us, who have no legal standing, and who are not parties to the agreement, or in any way responsible to the community."