WORK STOPPED ON WHARF

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22195, 11 September 1937, Page 14

WORK STOPPED ON WHARF

WATERFRONT DISPUTE AT AUCKLAND NON-UNIONISTS CONFER WITH OWNERS CONTINUITY OF EMPLOYMENT SOUGHT [THE PRESS Special Servlce.J AUCKLAND, September 10. Dissatisfaction with an alleged unequal distribution of work on the wharves and with the effect on nonunionists of the clause giving preference to members of the Waterside Workers' Union culminated in a decision by non-unionists to cease work to-day. At 9.45 a.m. a body of non-unionists were nominated to begin work on the Narbada, which arrived from Calcutta. They started work at 10.30, and at about 11.30 they were notified that 50 of them would not be required after lunch, as 50 unionists who had finished on the Hertford would be taking their place. According to an agreement between the employers and the Waterside Workers' Union non-union workers must cease work when unionists are available. The transfer of the 50 men from the Hertford to the Narbada, however, was not well received by the non-unionists, all of whom left the Narbada. All the other nonunionists, to the number of about 500, were called off work from all the ships in port. Several men addressed a mass meeting of the non-unionists in the afternoon, and a decision to cease work until their demands were met was approved. It was also decided to send delegates to meet members of the Auckland branch of the Shipowners' Federation, demanding that in cases where non-unionists are detailed to a ship they should be allowed to remain on that ship for the day. It is not intended in the men's demands that they should work the ship through, but that they should be allowed to work a day of eight hours once they are given a ship to work. Conference With Owners A conference between five delegates from the non-unionists and representatives of shipowners followed. After considering the men's proposals in committee, the owners' representatives informed the delegation that their demand for a full day's work once they started a ship could not be met owing to a clause in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which gave a preference to unionists if they were available. In the meantime, the owners' representatives would communicate with Wellington for a statement. When the result of the conference was communicated to the assembled non-unionists by two of the delegates, it was decided to continue a stop-work policy until to-morrow morning, when another meeting would be called. The meetings were fairly orderly, but during the absence of the delegates at the conference with the owners' representatives, three speakers assembled the waiting men and stated that they had been informed that at 6 o'clock men obtained from the Placement Office would be sent to the ships. They added that six men from the Placement Office had attempted to work a ship earlier in the afternoon, but unionists had refused to work with them and the six men left the ship. When it was suggested that the men picket the ships it was decided to await the result of the conference. Long Standing Trouble Several points in the dispute, extending over a period of some months, have caused considerable dissatisfaction among non-unionists, and the transfer of the unionists from the Hertford to the Narbada to-day precipitated trouble of long standing. Reference to many grievances was made by some of the speakers who addressed the men who had stopped work. One of the non-unionists said There were only 1000 men employed at casual labour during unloading operations on ships, but the maximum employed constantly, even for small periods, was about 700. Of that number there were some hundreds who would join the Waterside Workers' Union if the union would admit them. They were unable to gain admission to the union, although more than 100 men were set up as an auxiliary union some time ago.

The majority of the non-unionists were of the opinion that the class of man admitted to the auxiliary union was not as capable a worker nor was he as experienced in waterside work as the non-unionists. Various reasons were advanced by the men as to why they were unable to join the union, one being to the effect that many union men worked to a "go slow" policy and were not as capable of turning through the work with the speed of the nonunionists, many of whom were seamen. It was a-lso suggested that as ..union men- were given preference under the existing laws the union, desired to limit its membership in order that its members might obtain a greater share of the work offering and earn more money. High Wages "One thing that does not seem fair," he added, "is that some union men start work at 8 in the morning and work until 10 at night and are netting unusually hi"h wages. When we hear so much about a more even distribution of wealth, it seems that there is a great need for a more equal distribution of work among watersiders. The wharves will carry about 300 more men on a 40-hour week basis. The 40-hour week is insisted on in other industries, and we do not see why it should not be applied on the wharves. It only means that the businessman has to pay for the delay in unloading and it reflects on the expenditure of the working man who eventually buys the goods." It was also alleged that while unionists were in a position to make good living and, in some cases, high wages, the average non-unionist was lucky if he averaged 15s a week. Furthermore most of the non-unionists .were on sustenance. If the 40-hour week were strictly adhered to on the waterfront there would be need for only a few men to remain on sustenance. More men would be able to earn at least a living wage, and the cost of unloading goods in Auckland would be greatly decreased, he said.