DEADLOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 282, 29 November 1927, Page 7

DEADLOCK.

OVERTIME STRIKE.

Shipowners And Watersiders'

Are Adamant.

STEVEDORES JOIN MEN.

(By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 10 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, this day.

At a meeting of the Watersiders' Federation Management Committee fears were expressed that if the shipowners carried out their threat to tie up the ships in the event of their demands being disregarded by the watersiders' despite the committee's resolution rejecting the terms proposed, the dispute would reach a stage which was not contemplated by the union when the original overtime strike was given effect to.

Later the committee announced that although no reply was yet received from the Shipowners' Union they were still prepared to negotiate with the object of endeavouring to arrive at a settlement in order to obviate taking the drastic measures contemplated by the shipowners. Port Philip stevedores who handle all overseas cargo in the port of Melbourne have decided to support the watersiders' strike. The prevalent opinion on the waterfront is that unless a settlement is reached before Wednesday the committee of the Waterside Workers' Federation will declare all overseas and inter-State ships "black," and thus involve the seamen.

The waterside workers claim that the trouble can be averted if the owners will agree to a conference to enable the men to express their grievances and have them adjusted.

In reply, the owners say that the federation having declared that a resumption of normal work under the existing conditions is impossible, have now, in seeking a conference, thrown off the mask of their pretended desire to reach the Arbitration Court. This was actually the very last thing they desired.

Representatives of the shipowners stated that they will refuse to confer with the delegates of the watersiders. Even if the men decide to return to normal conditions on Wednesday the owners will hold to the letter of their ultimatum, and if the men should desire to resume the owners will not open any negotiations until the matter comes before the Arbitration Court.

The terms of awards and agreements will have to be honoured until the matter is before the Court.