MEN ABSENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 271, 14 November 1936, Page 17

MEN ABSENT.

NO SATURDAY WORK.

WOOL AND GRAIN STORES,

DEADLOCK IN CONCILIATION

Surprise was caused in Auckland's wool stores and the majority of the city's grain stores this morning when it was found that the employees had failed to report for work. All the wool stores were affected, and only two of the grain stores were able to carry on.

Mr, A. Markey, president of the WoolAssociation, stated this morning that all the wool stores were opened this morning in the usual way, but none of the store employees had turned up. He said the men We re working under the 1931 award, which stipulated a 44hour week. Fortunately, the stores were not as busy as they would have been had not shearing been held up owing to the weather. That meant that there would not be as large an offering at the next wool sale on November 28 as under normal conditions.

The manager of one of Auckland's largest wool stores said lie was surprised at the action of the men. He opened his store • this morning but there were no men to do the. work. He estimated that the number o£ employees affected in Auckland was between 300 and 400.

"It seems to me that the men are trying to force a forty-hour week upon the stores" said this informant. "The men have an award in existence and until a new one is made they should have turned up to work as usual. In this industry it is necessary to work on Saturdays to keep shipping, trucks, and the work of the season going generally. The refusal of the men to work is regarded most seriously by the employers." ■ . The Union's Side. Mr. W. Miller, secretary of the Storemen's Union, said that the men in the stores were not working this morning. The men affected were those who came under the wool, hide and grain section of the three awards in existence. Negotiations were being carried on for a new award, but a deadlock had occurred and the men had decided that they would not work on Saturdays. "I must' admit that it is a busy season," said Mr. Miller. "We met the employers in conciliation in Christchurch on November 2 and 3, but no decision was reached.. The employers definitely refused a 40-hour week. The proceedings were adjourned, but there is to be another meeting later on. In the meantime the decision ixot to work on Saturdays was reached." . Grain Stores. Although some men turned up to work in the grain stores this morning, the majority of,them joined issue with, those in-the wool stores, and did not put in an appearance. Approximately 200 men are engaged in the grain stores, and only two stores this morning were able to carry on, a handful of men reporting for duty. One manager, however, stated that his men worked as usual, but he could not say what the position would .be next Saturday.