WHARF LABOURERS' TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1041, 2 February 1911, Page 6

WHARF LABOURERS' TROUBLE.

a INTERESTING "OPEN LETTER." An open letter to tho members of the Wharf Labourers' Union, Wellington, and signed "Yours iu unity, Thos. Smith," is at present being circulated among members of' the above union regarding the working of vessels at this end trading lwtwecn tho port of Wellington and Patca. It reads as follows:-—

"You are awaro that there, is, at the present time,'a cessation of work at the port of Patea, which is not a strike within the terms of tho Arbitration Act. Our unicn is fully convinced of the justice of tho men's claims, which is to obtain the same .rate of pay as is. being paid 'iu Wanganui, and has been for years there. Our union, together with tho other unions in tho Waterside Workers' Federation, has been contributing funds, but it is becoming evidont that money may be giveu indefinitely and no conclusion reached unless more drastic action is taken. A number of our members have already refused to handle cargo on the boats trading to and from Patea,. but other members still continue to accept such engagements,-whereby they are seriously injuring their fellow workers at Pateo, and also those_ who have -refused the samo work at Wellington. If the union passes a formal resolution that no work shall bo done on those boats it is rendered liable tu a heavy penalty. On tho other hand, if the individual members of. the union decide not to accept engagements, neither they nor the union are rendered liablo by such action.

"I strongly advise all concerned not to accept engagements of work on those boats, as they are thereby joining in with the 'blacklegs' who are handling. cargo, at Patea.' We, as members of tho largest union in New Zealand, caimot.afford to allow th.e - small union at Patea to be beaten by a matter which vitally affects their conditions of living, and unionism completely shut out of the port, which is the object being aimed at by the emplovers. Ecmeinber how ' the question of hooks was settled on the Wanaka last week. Help the unionists at the samo time. No ono can force you to accept any engagements, my advice is do not start."

[In. regard to Mr. Smith's reference to the legal limitations imposed upon his union, it is interesting to note that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 190S, which came into operation on January 1, 1309, states in Part I, Section 3: (1) That the term

"strike" means ,tho act of any number of workers . . . in. discontinuing that employment ... or in refusing or failing . . . to resume . .- . their employment, the said . . . refusal. . . being due to any combination, • agreemnet, or common understanding, whether express or implied. . .-. (a) with intent to compel . . . any such employer to agreo ... or comply with any demands made by the said ox" any other workers; (b) with intent to cause loss or inconvenience ... to tho employer ... in the conduct of his business. Section G (1) says: Every person who' incites .... a strike ... or assists any person to' become a party to any such strike ... is liable to a penalty not exceeding .£lO, and if an industrial union .... to a penalty not exceeding ,£200.]