WORK RESUMED

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 125, 27 May 1920, Page 8

WORK RESUMED

PORT KEMBLA COAL DISPUTE

UNION EXECUTIVE ACTS.

A settlement was 'reached early this morning in regard to the waterside dispute over the handling of the Port KembU coal on the Commonwealth and Dominion Company's liner Port Nicholson.

The men who refused to work the coal yesterday acted on their own initiative, and declined to refer the point in dispute, a demand for the payment of 3d) extra per ton on the coal, wliich is classed as "dirty," to the local Disputes Committee, in accordance with the terms of the waterside agreement.' It is understood that the executive of the local union were against the precipitate a'csion of the men, and tfiis morning a stopwork meeting was held. Subsequently a statement was made to a Post representative as follows :

' 'A full meeting of the union was held in. the X store waiting room. Mr. L. Glover presided. The meeting opened at 8 a.m. The Port Nicholson dispute was fully discussed, the meeting deciding that the men concerned in the dispute should start work, the question oj the rate of pay to be submitted to the local Disputes' Committee. Immediately on the men resuming the committee met, when it was decided that 3d per hour extra should be paid on account of the'dusty nature of the coal.' The question of whether 6d per hour extra shall be paid' on all Port Kembla coal was referred to the National Disputes Committee." It is held by the men that Port Kembla coal is worse than ordinary dusty coal to handle, and that to work it is worth an extra 3d above that allowed for other "dirty" coal. This matter will be decided by the National Disputes' Committee.

It was stated on behalf of the shipowners that they, as employers, were firm in their,decision that the terms" of the agreement must be carried out.

The agreement provided for the reference of matters in dispute to a disputes' tribunal, and the employers were quits prepared to allow the full value of this clause. ■ ■

It was decided between the parties that work on the other vessels, on which operations were suspended yesterday • afternoon, should be resumed at 1 p.m. today. This was duly carried out, and this afternoon work was in full swing

The Nelson . steamer Nikau, which arrived at Wellington this morning, commenced discharging at 1 p.m. The vessel will sail on the return trip to Nelson at 7 oclock this>' evening.