DISMISSAL OF YOUTHS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 6

DISMISSAL OF YOUTHS

WATERSIDERS’ UNION ACTION

CLAUSE IN AWARD INVOKED

AT AUCKLAND “ The Press " Special Service

AUCKLAND, December 17. ! A number of youths, mainly university students who went to the Auckland waterfront yesterday in answer to the call for labour to cope with congestion, were dismissed about two hours later at the request of the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union. The union invoked a preference clause in the commission’s order by claiming that as its members could not be under 20 years of age, no non-union labour should be engaged. It was officially announced in the afternoon that there were vacancies for 110 men on the waterfront. The number of youths under 20 who were engaged from non-union labour yesterday totalled between 50 and 70. Some went to overseas vessels, but the majority was placed on small ships on the coastal fleet. While one company followed its old custom of not accepting youths under 18 it was reported that this was the average age of the youths offering for work. In some instances secondary school boys, some perhaps as young as 16, offered their services.

Last week frequent appeals were made for labour to handle the large quantity of cargo which had accumulated on the waterfront and when the union announced its decision the youths were as surprised as the stevedoring and shipping companies. The preference clause cited by the union states, in part, that when members of the union and non-members are employed together in any capacity both shall work together under the same conditions. The union has a minimum age of 20 for its members and maintains that employment of non-union labour under this age does not comply with the right of equal conditions. Some shipping officials held the view that while boys of 16 might not be expected to work, older youths were capable of safely carrying out some of the waterfront jobs. A recent precedent for the union’s action was during the war when a number of schoolboys were prevented from handling waterfront cargoes for the United States forces. HOPES FOR SETTLEMENT (P.A.) 'AUCKLAND, December 17. Hopes for the success of the current discussions in Wellington on the 40hour week pn the waterfront were held to-day, both by waterside workers and employers at Auckland Most of the workers are anxious to gain the financial assistance of overtime at this season, and the employers are waiting for an opportunity to clear the accumulation of ships and cargoes.

After to-morrow’s waterfront payout there will be only one more payment before Christmas, and -the hoped for settlement may yet add to Jthe next pay envelope. There has been no improvement in the shipping situation, and the first overseas ship to arrive at Auckland since last week’s wholesale diversion, the Narbada from India, will anchor in the stream to-morrow morning. She will join the Waimata, which arrived last Thursday from England via Port Said, and which is waiting to berth after the departure for Wellington on Thursday of the Gothic Star.