THE TALLY CLERKS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1914, Page 8

THE TALLY CLERKS

- ALLEGED VICTIMISATION. In regard to the complaints of "victimisation" made by some of the members of the newly-formed Tally Clerks' Union, enquiries made by a Post reporter to-day show that many, if r.ot most, of the long-service men engaged in this particular branch of wharf work are not members of the union at all, and have no grievances whatever as to their present conditions. Piecently a memorandum to this effect, signed by 40 tally-clerks, was forwarded to the shipping companies. An old and experienced hand stated to the reporter that the men who signed the circular had no desire to join the union, as they were well satisfied with their positions'! Some of the signatories, he said, were men who had been tally clerics for over twenty years. He explained that at present a system of seniority prevailed, under which the men who had had the longest experience and were most efficient were practically assured of constant work, and, if the proposed conditions were brought into force, it would mean that these men would perhaps have to stand aside to make Way for men who had only a slight knowledge of tally-clerking. This, he thought, wouM be unfair on the face of it, and would not find favour with the employers, who naturally preferred the tried and trusty men. In addition to those who signed the circular, he added, there were several other tally clerks who were not associated with the union.