A STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 7

A STRIKE

HIKURANGI MINERS OUT

ONE HUNDRED MEN IDLE,

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WHANGAREI, This Day. Following upon the ■ conference on Thursday morning between the Hikurangi Miners' Union delegates and the owners' delegates, it was reported to the meeting of the union yesterday that the owners adhered to the principle of reducing the number of employees by dismissingl those most recently employed, and would not accept balloting instead; thereupon the members of tho union decided to strike, leaving it to the owners to make the first move in negotiating for an adjustment. The decision affects all mines at Hikurangi, including Wilson's, which supplies coal for the large Cement works at Portland.

Altogether, one hundred men are idle. The miners allege victimisation. The president of the Miners' Union was on* of the first men discharged.

The trouble at Hiku/angi first developed in respect to men employed at Foot and Doel's mine, and seventeen men and two boys were originally involved. On behalf of the men, it was stated that the company gave seven men, including the president of the union, notice, to terminate on sth May. The union decided on 29th April to share work in this mine or to cavil out. On 30th April and Ist May, the president was away on union business, and on his return on 2nd May was sent home for not notifying the management that he would be off. The other miners wished to cease work, but the president persuaded them to continue work and to hold a meeting that night to consider the question. At the meeting it was dis covered that the manager had been notified of the president's intended absence, and it was decided to claim wages for the day he had been sent home. The manager refused this request, but decided to allow him to work out his notice. This the other miners, refused to accept, with the result that the pit was rendered idle. At a large general meeting of the Hikurangi Union on 6th May, the action of Foot and Doel'g men was endorsed, as it alleged to be a case oi victimisation, and they decided to fight by allowing the other miners to work and to strike a 5 per cent, levy in support of those out. Subsequently, the company agreed to pay the president hie shift's wages it the charge of victimisation was withdrawn, which was agreed on. The next question raised was the, qunntiou of the notices. The union contends that the company ignored all the usual methods of shortening hands— i.e., single men-to go first, Wt to wjae £i»i, tq go, jind ,thj bttlJoVgufcv