Work Stops On Wgtn. Wharves

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30478, 27 June 1964, Page 1

Work Stops On Wgtn. Wharves

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 26.

Work stopped on the Wellington waterfront early this afternoon until 8 am. on Monday. Watersiders left their jobs in sympathy with several of their number who were involved in a dispute over the working of the coaster, Ranginui.

A union spokesman said that a special stopwork meeting begun at 11.20 a.m. had decided that all work would cease on the waterfront till Monday. “We are going back to the ships to put the hatches back and see . that all is weathertight and leave,” he said. The spokesman said 14 watersiders on the Ranginui were dismissed last evening for refusing to violate conditions laid down under their order. “These men were then placed on a two-day penalty by the employers, who endeavoured to replace them at 8 a.m. today. These men, in turn, refused to lift their discs and were similarly placed on penalty for refusing to take the jobs. “In sympathy with the union, all non-union men available refused to accept employment on the ship. “The special stopwork meeting then heard a report on the matter by union executives and decided to support those who have so far been penalised.” It is understood that at 6.35 p.m. yesterday the'hatchman on the Ranginui, a key worker on the ship, left the job, and was dismissed. As no union men were

available at that hour, thewharf superintendent for the shipping company got a replacement from the Ranginui, believed to have been an officer, and not a member of the Seainen’s Union. The union office advised a delegate from the watersiders’ gang that a non-union man replacement was contrary to the order of the Waterfront Tribunal, providing a deadline of 6.15 p.m. for the employment of non-union labour. The deputy chairman and general secretary of the Port Employers’ Association (Mr V. P. Blakely) said: “Once again the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union has seen fit to take the law into its own hands to try to Influence the course of a dispute, rather than to allow the matter to be dealt with by proper conciliation machinery pro-, vided by the industry. “The employer considers that the action taken last evening was in accordance

with common sense and complied with the terms of the tribunal’s order. “No Option”

“In view of Hie notification from the union that its members will be striking until Monday morning, the management committee of the Port Employers’ Association has no option but to place the men on penalty for two days, which means that they will not be available to restart work until Tuesday morning.” A union spokesman said this afternoon that crew members of the inter-island steamers worked all cars before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. All cargo from the Maori from Lyttelton was removed before IL2O this morning. However, cargo arriving on the Rangatira tomorrow would not be touched.