AUCKLAND WATERFRONT ULTIMATUM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25878, 10 August 1949, Page 6

AUCKLAND WATERFRONT ULTIMATUM

Employers’ Notice To Union NORMAL OVERTIME WORK OR DISMISSAL (New &aland Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 9. A 24-hour ultimatum to accept overtime or be dismissed was issued to the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers, Union by the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores Association, the shipping employers’ organisation, this afternoon. If no assurance is received from the union by 3.30 p.m. to-morrow that normal overtime hours will be worked all waterfront work at Auckland will stop. It will not be resumed until the workers are prepared to work overtime. For seven weeks waterside workers at Auckland have refused overtime and, in the absence of Waterfront Industry Commission control, the employers have decided to handle tne dispute direct with the union. A complete stoppage of work would involve 13 overseas and 12 inter-colonial and coastal ships at the wharves. To-morrow afternoon four more overseas ships will be anchored. It is understood that the stand now taken by Auckland employers will not apply generally throughout New Zealand. The view is held that, as the overtime dispute began here, it should be ended here. The national and Auckland president of the union (Mr H. Barnes) would not comment this evening on the association s letter. The monthly stop-work meeting of the Auckland branch wili be held on Thursday morning.