UNION’S INSTRUCTION TO WATERSIDERS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25086, 18 January 1947, Page 8

UNION’S INSTRUCTION TO WATERSIDERS

Resumption of Normal Hours Next Week LABOUR CONFERENCE STILL TO BE HELD (P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 17. The Minister of Labour (Mr A. McLagan) was notified by telephone to-day by the national secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr T. Hill) that the national council of the Waterside Workers’ Union had instructed all branches to resume normal work as from Monday next. This followed a series of meetings between the national council of the union and the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet. The first meeting was held at Parliament Buildings on Thursday morning. There were subsequent discussions between the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash), the Minister of Labour, and representatives of the council both yesterday and to-day. 1 The secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (Mr K. McL. Baxter) said this evening that the extraordinary national conference of delegates to the faderation, called for Tuesday next, would still be held in spite of the announcement that watersiders would now resume normal working hours.

After the series of meetings to-day the Prime Minister wrote to Mr Hill as follows: —

“As mentioned in my letter of December 20, on normal hours of work being resumed, the following matters can be raised: “(1) Any anomalies in regard to annual holidays and statutory holidays. I repeat the statement in my letter of December 20: ‘The Government is of opinion, in connexion with holiday pay, that the waterside worker should be in a position not less favourable than other workers, and also that reasoned discussion will produce practical results to ensure this end.’

“(2) Saturday morning call: if it is practicable to make suitable arrangements in substitution of the Saturday morning call under modern conditions, including radio notification of the arrival. of ships, ft have no doubt an agreement satisfactory to all parties can be arranged. Guaranteed Wage Claim “(3) Guaranteed wage claim: the chairman of the Waterfront Industry Commission has advised the Government that he will arrange for consideration of the effect of his pronouncement on the guaranteed wage, including representations of the union for its reconsideration, and the chairman has also notifiedathe that no order will be made before this reconsideration has taken place. This reconsideration will take place as soon as is practicable after the resumption of normal work. • “(4) Increased wages claim: reference has been made to the claim of the union for an. increase in wages. As stated previously, this is a subject for consideration by the commission. “(5) Accommodation and amenities: the Government has always stood for, and will do everything practicable to facilitate, the provision of good and adequate accommodation and amenities for workers on the waterfront. Progress in this regard is inevitably conditioned by the existing position in regard to materials and labour in the building industry, particularly in respect to urgent housing needs.

Conditions of Labour “(6) Conditions of labour: the Government stands on the one hand for a steady improvement as economic circumstances permit in the conditions of all wage earners and of the people generally, but it also stands for every citizen assuming his full obligation and responsibility in regard to giving honest, efficient service in whatever position he occupies in the community. We are sure all agree that reason-, able efficiency in waterfront work from employees and employers alike is as necessary as in all other occupations, and that the .conditions of workers can only be maintained and improved if there is that degree of efficiency. ; “In statements made yesterday by members of the Waterside Workers Union Council, it was claimed there is ample provision in the existing orders of the commission for the transfer of workers from one job to another in the interests of the efficient working of shipping at our ports. This efficiency the Government considers is essential for the continued prosperity of the country, including the welfare of the workers concerned. “On the resumption of normal hours of work, the order suspending the powers and authorities of the Waterfront Industry Commission will be rescinded.”