SIXES AND SEVENS MEN ON THE WHARVES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1914, Page 8

SIXES AND SEVENS MEN ON THE WHARVES

FORMING NEW UNIONS.. Matters connected with the waterfront continue to be at sixes and sevens, and if present indications point to anything it would appear that interesting developments may be expected in th» near future. The principal bone of contention at present is the failure of the arbitration union formed during the strike to call' I a general meeting, at which the affaire of the union may be discussed. As the old watersiders employed on the wharves now outnnumber the arbitrationists by about 4 to 1, the discontent, it is stated in old union circles, is fairly general, and different proposals are mooted, with a view to forcing the hands of the executive of the new union. One of these is to form three new unions, viz. (1) Among tho Harbour Board employees; (2) the coal-heavers ; and (3) the stevedores. A Post reporter was assured this morning that steps are now being taken in this direction, and application will be made to the Registrar shortly for the registration of the new bodies. If registration is refused the dissatisfied men state that they will call another " stop-work " meeting with a view to calling public attention to their grievances and thereby forcing the authorities to act. It is understood the Labour Department is making enquiries with a view to prosecuting one of the shipping companies for alleged wrongful dismissal of certain non-unionists under the new agreement. Clause 23 of the new agreement provides: "Any non-union labour engaged owing to union labour not being available shall be permitted to finish the work upon which they are engaged. When members of the union and nonmembers are employed together there shall be no distinction between the members ami non-members, and both shall receive equal pay for equal work and both shall work together in harmony." The incident complained of took place about a fortnight ago, when several nonunioni&ts working on one of the wharves ■wore, it is alleged, dismissed and replaced by unionists* Several i>i tho nonunionists in question have since become members of the union. MEETINGS CALLED. A Post reporter was officially informed this afternoon that a general meeting of members of the Wellington Wharf Labourer©' Union, the union formed during the strike, will be /called, within the next fortnight to consider general union business. A meeting will be held by the Harbour Board employees to-night to consider their position.