GAS HOLD UP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 301, 20 December 1943, Page 4

GAS HOLD UP

MEN GO ON STRIKE

MORE WAGES ASKED

Gas production in Auckland is at a standstill owing to a strike of some 400 men employed by the Auckland Gas Co. "When the members of the Auckland Gas Workers' Union decided to take direct action after a meeting this morning carpenters and other tradesmen employed by the company, but who belong to other unions, dowued tools in sympathy. It is understood, on the statement of the manager of the company, Mr. R. Worley, that the strike is the result of the employees' discontent with the decision of the disputes committee, which investigated earlier demands of the employees for a 20 per cent all round increase in wages. Wide Repercussions The men's decision to strike has had immediate effect on 200 Auckland industrial establishments of which the most vitally affected are Bycrofts, the Glass Works, Penrose, Westfield Freezing Works, Hellaby's, the Gane Engineering Co., Alex. Harvey and Sons, Ltd., Electric Products, Ltd. The others include 100 clothing factories, All these concerns will have to close down at least some sections, if not all, of their activities. Bycroft's biscuit factory has already had to cease operations. "Big industries have been asked to stop," said Mr. Worley, this afternoon. "The householder will receive sufficient gas to-day to cook the evening meal, but unless the men return to work the position will result in a state of chaos throughout the metropolitan area." Mr. Worley added that 56,000 homes in Auckland and surrounding districts depended on gas lor cooking. Manager's Statement Outlining the background of the dispute, Mr. Worley declared this morning that on November 1 a general meeting of the members of the Gas Workers' Union was held and a demand sent in for a 20 per cent all round increase in wages. A strike was averted at that time by the Government setting up a disputes committee under the chairmanship of the industrial magistrate, Mr. J. A. Gilmour. "A thorough investigation was made by the disputes committee into the whole of the Gas Company's manufacturing activities and several days were occupied by the committee," said Mr. Worley. "The finding of the magistrate came to hand on Saturday morning and a general meeting of the members of the Gas Workers' Union was held at the works at 8 a.m. this morning to consider the finding, which was as follows:— (1) The lower paid workers—those on the basic rate of 2/4 an hour plus the two cost of living bonuses—were to' receive a bonus for a full week's work of 6/8 and proportionately for part of a week. (2) When the present temporary arrangement with the stokers expires the following classes of employees are to be paid at the basic rate of £1 3/ per shift:— Horizontal retorts: Power stroking machines—Charging and pushing machine operators, stokers, retort patcher and scurfer, pipe jumpers, water gas operators, and coke transporter men. Fire cleaners regularly employed on shift work or day work. Other operators and water gas operators. Fire cleaners where regularly employed on shift work or day work. "This meant an increase of about 6/8 a week for all the above classes of workers," said Mr. Worley. "The finding went on: (3) All work performed on Saturday morning is to be paid for at • overtime rates. Finding Rejected "The meeting this morning unanimously decided to reject the finding of the disputes committee and promptly went on strike," he said. "They have submitted a further demand to the Government for a general increase in wages all round of 3d an hour, and have intimated that they desire a decision by 12 noon to-day if they are to return to work. A demand for a general increase is a direct threat to the Government's stabilisation issue." During the past two or three months the company had put in many improvements askeo} for by the men, said the manager. Everything possible to meet their requirements had been done other than granting a general increase in wages, which was entirely a stabilisation matter.

Holders Nearly Empty

The men held a meeting at noon to-day at the Beaumont Street works when telegrams were received from Wellington advising them to return to work immediately. It is understood, however, that the decision of the men was to remain out.

Another meeting of the men will be held to-morrow.

The point was stressed this afternoon by the manager of the company that the lower ~the fires got the more difficult and longer would be the task of restoring full production. If the works were not in operation to-morrow it was doubtful whether there would be any gas supply for Christmas.

"The holders will be empty by to morrow morning," added Mr. Worley.