Pickets On Site

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31681, 17 May 1968, Page 20

Pickets On Site

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 16. Pickets carrying placards, with the wording: “This job on strike,” took up positions today outside a Mangere building site, where a hospital for the intellectually handicapped is being built. The pickets are members of the Auckland Carpenters’ Union, which decided on this form of protest after the building company, W. Williamson Construction, Ltd, advertised yesterday for labour to replace the 10 men who went on strike two weeks ago after the dismissal of a union delegate. The union secretary, Mr A. Russ said the pickets had instructions to act in a proper way. AH attempts to bring about negotiations had failed because it had been impossible to find common ground with the Auckland Master Builders’ Association, which is handling the dispute for the company.

The Canterbury Trades Council of the Federation of Labour last evening decided to give any support found necessary to Auckland carpenters involved in a dispute with the Christchurch building firm, W. Williamson Con struction Company, Ltd, on its Mangere Hospital job in Auckland. The president (Mr R. A.

Hill) said after the meeting that a representative of the Canterbury Carpenters’ Union had reported to the council on the Auckland dispute. The Canterbury Trades Council would watch the position in Auckland closely with a view to taking any action necessary on Williamson jobs in Christchurch, said Mr Hill. If a request came from the Auckland Carpenters’ Union for support, it would certainly be forthcoming.