WAREHOUSEMEN'S UNION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 49, 26 August 1911, Page 9

WAREHOUSEMEN'S UNION.

TO THE EDtTOH. Sir, -"In reply to the attacks that have been made by f-mployors against me personally regarding my statements, which have been published in to-day's Post, 1 most emphatically persist that tho statements are absolutely true. Since they Were published 4 - 1 have heard fellowemployee.-- express pleasure at such candid statements. I Plight state at the outhpi that my statements were compiled with the assistance of other fellow- workers who are and have been-^for some time suffering from the same grievance^poor pay for skilled labour. If "Manager" {No. 1) says that I am only obtaining, along -with my fellow-employees, my true value, then all T can say is "God help i»." Regarding ability— well, I havo seen very little of that from the managers themselves, considering tho laxity that takes place nowadays. Another manager asserts that ''brains avc paid for." Well, docs ho mean that he engager assistants without brains, and does he allow "brainless men"' to handle hundreds of pounds' of goods, and make up orders, storo goods nway, and. Jast i but not least, assist in annual stock-taking? Why, sir, his asser* tions arc too absurd for words. Since when are, managers capable of knowing khe quantity of brains a roan has? Ana does no mean tc say tha\ an assistant who has served a considerable number of years in th« trade "knows nothing?" My "rambling statements'' is another term he uses. I have a friend who has been tn his present situation for over fifteen years (and 1 enclose his name), who will satisfy you upon interviewing him regarding my statements. J know as many as six assistant? in ono of our neighbouring warehouses who arc only receiving frdm 26s to oSs- weekly, so thnt one firm only has six "brainless men." How sad fo? the business ! But, tn conclude with tho manager's statements™ "Whon> ign6ranco is bliss 'tis folly to be wise," ',% rcallv my and my fellow-employees' opinion. - Regarding the sheets going around the firms, I say again that the one that went around our firm was sent by one of the managers of the department. 1 shall forward you, iir, my credentials for your inspection, so that you can satisfy yourself that I am a "skilled workman." The other parts of "Managers' " statements 4 ore not worth attending to, as we consider u he public know almost as much about our cheap labour as ourselves.— l am, etc., BRAINLESS ASSISTANT. 22nd August. TO TH« EDITOR. Sir,—"Rag Trade." in his letter, states that liberties will be done away with should unionism come into force. This in plain English means the doing in business hours of private business by the head* of _ departments, thoughtlessly leaving their seconds, and juniors to carry on their work. Again, an argument largely brought forward by those opposing the union is that of putting off. hands. If it takes fifty to keep up with business now, the same number will still be needed under union regulations. That pressure has been brought to beaf upon juniors in soft goods warehouses there is no doubt, the said pressure being that the assistants have been frightened iftto signing petitions against the union on tho grounds that their billets were at stake. Of course, this has not been done openly, but nevertheless that sentiment has been runaing through all arguments put forth by those in power. It practically amounts to this— that the heads of departments are frightened, for absolutely selfish motives, for under the proposed union their salaries will bo decreased and those of the juniors raised. 1 am not in favour of this proposed union, but that the position of juniors could be bettered there is not the slightest doubt, and 1 believe this is the idea of the promoters. Why not let these self-styled workmen (?) such as "Rag Trade," come forward and state the case plainly, and not, as he says, "protect the junior against himself, 1 ' which means working (or his own, selfish encfs.-»l am, etc., A JUNIOR. Wellington, 22nd August, 1911.