WHARF DISPUTE AT AUCKLAND NORMAL WORK TO-DAY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25447, 19 March 1948, Page 6

WHARF DISPUTE AT AUCKLAND NORMAL WORK TO-DAY

COMMISSION’S TERMS ACCEPTED (PA.) AUCKLAND, March 18. Normal work on the Auckland waterfront is expected to be resumed to-morrow morning for the first time for more than four weeks. The Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union decided at its stop-work meeting to-day to accept the Waterfront Industry Commission’s terms for a settlement, but an hour later a labour call was refused by the union on a claim that the commission still intended to declare the Mountpark a preference ship. The union president (Mr H. Barnes) said the men would accept calls -for all ships if all discs were shown at to-morrow morning’s call at the commission’s Labour Engagement Burkau. The commission announced that there had been a misunderstanding and that a full call for labour would be made in the morning. The chairman- of the commission (Judge Dalglish) said the branch manager at Auckland had been informed yesterday afternoon by Mr Barnes and Mr T. Hill, New Zealand secretary of the union, that as soon as the stopwork meeting made a decision the branch manager would be advised. The terms proposed by the commission were put into writing at the request of the union and formal advice by the union of its acceptance was only to be expected. This was not received until the afternoon. Pending receipt of adviee from the union, the engagement board for the Mountpark was put out in its own, and this was misinterpreted by members of the executive of the union. Engagement boards for other ships were put out after official word of the decision had been received. In view of the misunderstanding, to-morrow morning the members of the union would again be given the opportunity to carry out the commission’s terms of settlement. The terms proposed by the commission and accepted by .the union provide that normal overtime and Saturday morning work is to be resumed on all vessels in port including the Mountpark. On the resumption of work, all penalties running at the time of resumption are to be cancelled, and all ships manned as far as labour is available. Provision for the working of the Mountpark is made in a manner which will not prejudice either party in the legal proceedings proposed by the union to determine the propriety of decisions by the commission.