WATERSIDE WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2691, 10 February 1916, Page 6

WATERSIDE WORKERS

: A STOP-WORK MEETING. The Waterside Workers' Union work under an agreement which does not lapse in the ordinary way until December next. Recently, owing to the high price of foodstuffs and the increase generally in the cost'of living, the union's representatives approached the employers, and pointed out that the agreement was becoming irksome owing to abnormal conditions, and would they meet them in conference to discuss an easing of the conditions. The employers consented, and after a round-the-table discussion the employers' representatives agreed to make certain concessions as to wages, and to those concessions the union's delegates agreed, subject, of course, to their acceptance by the members of the union; To place the proposed now terms before members tne'union called a stopwork meeting at 8 a.m. yesterday, the employers agreeing to an allowance of two hours for , tile meeting. There were about a''thousand waterside workers present, filling the big upstairs room,in X Shed, Waterloo Quay, The meeting lasted until 10.30 a.m., and work on the wharves was commenced at about 10.40 a.m. A little later it was ascertained that tho watersiders had turned down the employers' proposals— on ono point only. There were negotiations between the two parties during the afternoon ; and the point concerned is to bo again submitted to the men at a later meeting, when it is hoped that an arrangement satisfactory to both' parties will be arrived at.