AIRMEN STILL ON STRIKE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24984, 19 September 1946, Page 4

AIRMEN STILL ON STRIKE

THREE”AUCKLAND STATIONS SATURDAY WORK ORDER UNDER REVIEW (PA.) AUCKLAND, September 18. Airmen at three Auckland stations of the R.N.ZA.F. were on strike today, those at Whenuapai and Mechanics Bay being joined by some of the men at Hobsonville, in spite of advice from the Air Department that the order requiring up to 50 per cent, to work on Saturday mornings was myier review, and that a definite ruling would be given by Friday. Because the hour chosen for the Acting-Chief of the Air Staff (Air Commodore S. Wallingford) to address the airmen at Whenuapai did not suit some of them, they refused to parade, and Air Commodore Wallingford immediately left for Wellington by air. The day passed quietly at all three stations. There was no disorder, and essential services were again maintained. Scheduled flying from Whenuapai was not interrupted, and meals were served normally. Victimisation of non-strikers, including Waafs, occurred at Whenuapai to-day and resulted in complaints being made to the commanding officer, Group Captain C. C. Hunter. A request that the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) should come to Auckland to discuss the position was a fresh development of the dispute at Mechanics Bay. It was apparent that some sections of the men were weakening in their attitude, and particularly at Hobsonville opinion was fairly evenly divided, but a consultation between strikers’ delegates at the three stations resulted in a decision not to return to work until a 40-hour five-day week was provided. Incident at Whenuapai The most notable occurrence was at Whenuapai, where the striking airmen took the unprecedented course of endeavouring to dictate to the senior R.N.ZA.F. officer in New Zealand as to when they would hear his address. Air Commodore Wallingford promptly refused to speak in the circumstances, and left the station. The meeting at which Air, Commodore Wallingford was to speak was called at Whenuapai for the usual hour of beginning work, 8 a.m. At 7.55 a.m. the station warrant officer reported to the commanding officer that the airmen would not attend, because,two of their delegates were not coming to the station until 8.45 a.m. Group Captain Hunter replied that transport had been provided on Tuesday for living off personnel as usual, and that the carrier had returned to the station at 7.35 am. bringing the airmen. If the men were not prepared to parade at 8 o’clock the Air Commodore would not address them at ail. The men decided not to attend, and the talk was cancelled.

An Air Department signal announcing a review of the order that precipitated the trouble was read to the airmen by the station administration officer about 10 o’clock. He pointed out that in the circumstances they had no grounds for refusing to work, and asked if they were prepared to resume. The answer was a concerted “No.” /

Prolonged Talks The strikers’ representatives called on Wing Commander A. A. N. Breckon, D.F.C., at Mechanics Bay this morning, and were given permission to discuss the position with the men at Whenuapai and Hobsonville. The talks were prolonged, but early in the afternoon the commanding officer was informed that the men intended to remain on strike for a 40-hour five-day week, and that they wanted the Minister of Defence to come to Auckland to discuss the Air Department order personally. Wing Commander A, E. Willis called a parade this morning at Hobsonville. His airmen duly paraded, and he addressed them, reading the Air Department signal and explaining that the point of contention, Saturday work, was under review. Approximately half the airmen wished to return to work, but after talking with the men from Whenuapai they decided to remain on No interruption of the internal air service connecting Whenuapai with Paraparaumu and Harewood is expected to arise from the strike. The aircraft are serviced by civilian contractors at Harewood, and sufficient men are working in the traffic and maintenance sections at Whenuapai to enable the service to continue.