WORK ON WHARVES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 8

WORK ON WHARVES

HARBOUR BOARD LABOUR

DESIRE OF WATERSIDERS' UNION

A SHARE IN SELECTION,

In connection with employment on the waterfront, the Harbour Board has for some time had in operation a scheme which resembles in some respects the centralised control system recently adopted by the shipping companies in conjunction with the Waterside Workers' Union.

This week a deputation from the Watersiders' Union waited on a committee of the board, suggesting that.the union should be given a voice in the selection of the board's labour. The board's decision will probably be made known at its next ordinary meeting. The union desires the establishment of a committee representative of the board and the union, and consisting of < three representatives from each. The function of the committee -would he to meet monthly, or as often as may be required, to make such improvements or alterations to the control of labour scheme as may from time to time be found necessary, and to remedy any abuse which may have crept in, or to reotify any, grievances whioh may be brought forward by the board, or by the union. The nomination system of engaging men would be adopted, and in the event of any vacancies occurring, tie men required to fill them should be &eleoted by the joint committee, and approved of by the Harbour Board's foreman, froni a list of names submitted after endorsement by the committee. It is also proposed by the union that instead of increasing the Harbour Board's permanent staff, the services of casuals who are members of the union should be utilised for tallying and delivering. If carried out, this would be a reversion to the system employed by the board.a few years ago. It is claimed that under the union's scheme a larger number of members of the union would have the opportunity of securing a more -even proportion of work all the year round, and that there would not be such great fluctuations in the periods of employment and unemployment as now occur.

In reply to a question, Mr. L. Glover, president of the Waterside Workers' Union, stated this morning that the Harbour Board's present system of recruiting casual labour was responsible for a considerable amount of discontent. The casuals had no means by which they could present grievances before the officers of the board.

Asked further whether the present system of engagement was satisfactory to theworkers,Mr. Glover answered in the negative. "The very fact of the Harbour Board section of our members asking that a deputation should place their wishes before the board is proof that the men. are not satisfied," he said.

"They do not believe in the present system, therefore it cannot be in their interests."