MEN RETURN TO WORK

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 14

MEN RETURN TO WORK

AUCKLAND WATERFRONT DISPUTE INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP OF UNION SUGGESTED tPBESB A3SOCIATIOS TZLZGBAM.) AUCKLAND, September 13. The dispute on the Auckland waterfront created through the displacement of 25 non-unionists by members of the Waterside "Workers' Union on Friday has been settled, pending negotiations with the National Executive of the Watersiders' Federation and representatives of the Shipowners' Association. A decision was reached at a meeting of non-unionists this morning, when it was resolved to return to work pending the negotiations decided upon. The decision of the men to return ■ to work followed an intimation made to them by representatives of the shipowners that, under a clause of the In- | dustrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act preference must be given to unionists when they were available and willing. A spokesman of the nonunionists said that officials of the union had been sympathetic, and there was no quarrel with the union. The situation was created through the section j of the act which enforced preference to unionists. On the other hand, many of the non-unicnists, including several former members of the union, declared that the position would be greatly relieved if the union increased its membership. There were several hundred men capable of doing the work, with no blemish on their characters, who desired to join the union, but they had been unsuccessful in their endeavours. The union was refusing them admission, in spite of increased work in the port, which was demanding increased waterfront labour.