WORK ON THE AUSTRALIAN WHARVES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 25, 24 October 1917, Page 6

WORK ON THE AUSTRALIAN WHARVES

CASUAL SYSTEM ABOLISHED. It has been decided by tho Steamship Owners' Association to abolish the system of casual employment of wharf labourers and instead to place all labour 011 the wharves on a permanent basis. Tho wharf labourer seeking work will now have to register at a bureau, and if suitable he will be engaged at a weekly wage. A log of conditions under this scheme was posted qji all the wharves recently. It provides for constant employment in the loading, berthing, and discharge of all vessels. The working hours are to be 46i weekly, to be worked between S a.m. and 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday inclusive, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Tho minimum rate of pay is ,£3. Is. 6d. a week. Extra payment is to be made for overtime and the handling of special cargoes.

Mr. Jefferson, chairman of the committee of the Shipowners' .Association, said that the association had not the slightest intention of attempting to reduce wages or l to alter the standard of conditions, but -what they desired vns to run their business in their own way, freo from the domination of the domestic rules of the Wharf Labourers' Union, They had no desire to break unionism, but rather the desire—one in which lie belidved they were supported by the majority of true wharf labourers—to create a body of reliable workers. Every encouragement would be given to permanent hands to form a union. Mr. Jefferson intimated that Hie decision had been arrived at as the result of a conference of shipowners in Melbourne, and the altered conditions would apply to all the ports of the Commonwealth. The matter of labour on the wharves was a national problem, as the constant bickerings of the Wharf Labourers' Union and their absurd domestic rules, such as tl.e one which prevented a man working on a. wheat ship after 9 p.m., caused considerable delay to shipping, which i.as so essential to victory over the Germnns. The association had decided to stand or fall by all those whom they engaged, and everything possible would be done to prevent their victimisation by ony union. In these circumstances, the asso. ciation had no doubt that the right men would offer.