EMPLOYMENT OF SEAMEN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22339, 1 March 1938, Page 3

EMPLOYMENT OF SEAMEN

CLAUSE HELD TO BE INOPERATIVE

WATERSIDE WORKERS AWARD ’ An interpretation of the New Zealand waterside workers’ award, which applies to all ports in the Dominion, hud also of the Northern, Wellington, Otago, and Southland seamen’s award, has been given by the Arbitration Court at the request of the Inspector of Awards. , , A clause in the waterside workers award states that if members of the Waterside Workers' Union are available, seamen shall not he employed at the work of loading. or discharging vessels or at work on the wharves, trucks, or in sheds or stores. In cases Where union -waterside labour is not> available, and- waterside worker and'

seamen are employed together, and where a vessel has to complete loading or discharging in one day, the waterside workers shall not be discharged until the vessel ceases work. In all cases where seamen are employed to perform waterside work, they shall be replaced by members of the Waterside Workrs’ Union when available. The clause also provides that the removing and replacing of hatches shall be recognised as waterside work, and in cases where this work is performed by seamen, the gang or gangs employed at each hatch shall be paid the time it would have taken to remove or replace the hatches. It is provided that in the case of a vessel sailing immediately the cargo is loaded or discharged, payment for removing or replacing the hatches need not be made even if such work is done by seamen. The employer may employ either waterside workers or seamen to send up or lower derricks, but, if waterside workers are employed to lower derricks and put away gear, they 'shall be allowed to complete the Job. Mr Justice O’Regan, President of the Court, held this clause of the 1 waterside workers’ award is inopera,tive. as it purported to affect the existing rights of seamen. The difficulties that had arisen were due to the action of those employers who entered into two conflicting agreements with water-, ; side and seamem respectively.