COAL-WORKERS BUSY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1914, Page 8

COAL- WORKERS BUSY

A MEETING OF OLD WATERSIDERS. ' A large amount of coal and cargo work was offering to-day, and consequently the number unemployed was not so groat as on many days last week. The coal workers, especially, were mostly busy, the Hans 8., from Delagoa Bay, taking 110 out into the stream. The foremen seem anxious to abide by the decision of the employers' to give the 'preference men the , option of employment, but are sometimes inconvenienced by the failure of these men to wear their badges. With so many new men on the waterfront, it is difficult on occasions to select tho now from the old members of the union. Tho old Waterside Workers' Union held a meeting in the Vivian-street Hall yesterday morning, and turned up in good numbers. It is understood that tho question o£ preference wns discussed and complaints made that many of the old watersiders .were unable to obtain work. It is reported that tho old union has definitely decided to test the validity of the preference system at present employed. Tho Harbour Board had about 500 men employed on the wharves to-day.