WATERSIDERS’ UNION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25082, 14 January 1947, Page 6

WATERSIDERS’ UNION

Pamphlet Issued ATTITUDE TO DISPUTE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 13. “We do not want to split the labour movement but consolidate it This is an early statement in a comprehensive pamphlet explaining the watersiders’ claims in the national dispute issued to-day. In approximately 5000 words, the pamphlet deals with many aspects from the workers’ viewpoint, and says? ’’When we emerge successful from this dispute, we believe the Labour movement and consequently the claims of all the workers of New Zealand, will be immeasurably strengthened.” . _ The pamphlet states, inter aha; ”We are forced to fight those officials of our Labour Government and the Federation of Labour who line themselves p with employers.” The pamphlet details the wateraiders’ major claims, and says: “No section or organisation of workers has yet been found to deny the merit of the workers’ claim. In fact, most of the other workers’ organisations consider the waterside workers far top modest in their demands in this connexion.” Referring to the employers’ attitude to the wafersider, the pamphlet says: “Jf you are not there when I happen to you, you shall be ’penalised, as required by the conditions of your employment.”

The pamphlet continues that worldwide recognition hag been given to tpe case of the waterside worker’s claims for payment for making him - ’ self available for work in the industry at the employers’ request. The basic principle of the guaranteed wage was made mandatory in respect of 17 ports by the order of the Wpterfront Control Commission, which also raised the guarantee to £3 a week, More than six years had passed, and this inadequate guarantee was only provided for at four of tfie 17 ports, it was stated. “Repeated requests have been iqgde for the fulfilment of this promise,” the pamphlet continues, referring to the myth of the extraordinary wages on the wharves.

Average Earnings The pamphlet states that average earnings have been dropping heavily since tiie last year of the war. Quoting the particular case of one water - sider who did earn £519 in the year ended March 31, 1946, tfie pamphlet States that the amount earned in ordinary time was £294, with £225 overtime. The overtime involved 132 evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 25 Sundays all day, 27 Saturday mornings, and 16 Saturdays all day. The pamphlet comments on the “injustice of fixing the hourly rate for watersiders on the total number of ordinary and overtime hours. It is foreign to all working class principles that wage rates should be determined by reference to overtime,” After traversing the decision of the chairman of the Waterfront Industry Commission (Mr Justice Ongley) on the guaranteed wage claim, the pamphlet alleges that it “gave lip service to a guaranteed daily wage, but negated it by the so-called four-w.eekly guarantee of £25.”

The pamphlet says subsequently: “Is it to be wondered at that the rank and file waterside worker, reading this decision on Thursday, November 26, became thoroughly incensed, demanded meetings pf his branches, and insisted on the immediate limitation of the hours of work to 40 a week?” The pamphlet goes on to review the negotiations which followed- It refers to a meeting attended by “the Cabinet Ministers, the two national executives, Mr Bockett, of the commission, and the Prime Minister presiding.”

It “soon became apparent that the mind of the Government was already made up.”

“War of Nerves” The pamphlet deals also with correspondence with the secretary of the Federation of Labour (Mr K. Baxter), and the relevant controversy, details of which have already been published, and states: “A war of nerves was commenced by the employers and certain Government officials, ably assisted by certain leaders of the federation.”

The pamphlet continues; “Fop the first time in New Zealand a situation is presented to the people of shipowners sitting back in their comfortable office Chairs, laughing at political and trade union leaders filling the role which they themselves filled in 1890.’’ Reference to “secret meetings among union officials” is made. The pamphlet states that on the announcement of the New Zealand Transport Workers’ Federation’s endorsement of the watersiders’ claims there was an immediate intensification of the campaign to force the watersiders to resume overtime work.

“Secret meetings among union officials were held, and strenuous efforts were made by some trade union leaders to secure the support of certain organisations for the policy of the Federation of Labour, which had become now openly more hostile to the waterside workers,” it stated. “Without consultation with their executives or national council, certain organisations committed themselves to support of the executive of the Federation qf Labour.”