FLAXWORKERS' STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3189, 13 September 1917, Page 6

FLAXWORKERS' STRIKE

THE SEIFERT MILLS IDLE MEN DEMAND BIG INCREASES 1 There is trouble in the Manawatu among the flax workers. At tho Weka and Miranui mills, owned by Messrs. A. and L. Seifert, at Shannon, the 'men made certain demands on Friday last, and on these being refused the men "downed tools."

Mr. A. Seifert informed a "Manawatu Standard" representative that ihe mill hands, consisting of stripper-keepers and other workers employed inside the mills, whose minimum wage is 335. per day, or Is. 7Jd., per hour, made a request for an increase of 2d. per hour, amounting to 2s. per day, which was refused by the company. The two mills in question run nine strippers between them, and employ about 40 men inside. On their request being refused, the men immediately downed tools. Later in the day the paddockers and scutchers, numbering over 40 men, struck in sympathy with the inside hands, and both mills were compelled to cense operations. .

The arbitration award under which the men work expired this month, bi;.t it remnins in force till another award is made. The rate of pay per hour for an eight-hour day to which hands are en-> Htled under this award are as follow:— Stripper-keepers, Is. 9<1.; bench-loaders, Is. 2d.; paddnckers, Is. 21d.; feeders, Is. Id.; sorters. Is. Id.: rouseibouts and any. other hands, Is. Id.; but higher rates than these have been paid by the millers for some time.

A meolinir of flnxmill workers was held in the Druids' Hall at Shannon on Monday nieht to consider the strike nt the M'rnrmi and Weka mills. From 250 to 300 men were present. It was crated that there was some talk amongst a miioritv of the strikers of gofing back to work. The. position was discussed at considerable length, and it was unanimously decided to' continue the strike till the "stop-work" meeting of the union to be held tn-day. and to allow that meeting to as to the future action.

The Faxworkers' Union lias called the "stop-work" meeting for to-day, a"d it i* exneeted that representatives will attend fmm all the mills. A deevnon will then lv» arrived at as to whether the strike is to continue.

A memlx" 1 of f he Strike Committee informed a "Standard" representative that the strikers were qurite prepared to negotiate. "We are anxious," he *aid, "flint t-he dismite should go no -'urther. and believe that there is room r n r compromise on the noints raised." He added that, apart from, the w,i."es .mestion, (lie men had no quarrel with the nroprietarv of the mills, and of-knowlodf-d the fair treatment they had .'enerally rc">'ved from ihe managi"',' director.

AVnrd was received in Wellington yesferdnv that the workers in. the Foxton fiaxmills were rnki"" symnri'ieHc action in support of tho Shannon strikers.