SEAMEN'S GRIEVANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 102, 3 May 1933, Page 10

SEAMEN'S GRIEVANCE

DISPUTE OVER CONDITIONS

MEETINGS OF UNION

A serious development on tho Wellington waterfront yesterday afternoon and evening resulted in the hold-up of tho San Francisco mail steamer Maunganui, tho intercolonial steamer Monowai, tho Nelson ferry steamer Arahura, and several cargo steamers. The Lyttelton ferry steamer Maori sailed an hour and a quarter late. The hold-up was occasioned by seamen who refused to take the ships to sea, their grievance relating to new conditions which operated as from May 1, As reported in "Tho Post" yesterday, a meeting of tho Seamen's Union was held yesterday morning when dissatisfaction was expressed with the conditions under which tho seamen are employed. It is also understood that tho meeting censured the executive of the union who were empowered to negotiate with the shipowners on the terms of employment. THE WAGES ISSUE. Prior to August last year, seamen in New Zealand -worked under an agreement which was, not registered in the Arbitration Court, and consequently the men were not subject to tho general order of the Court which mado a 10 per cent, reduction in award rates. When the seamen's agreement expired, negotiations were carried out for a new agreement. The shipowners claimed in the first place- for a 20 per cent, reduction, but this was later reduced to a 15 per cent, reduction. They also desired several amendments in the conditions of work. In November last year an agreement was reached in which tho seamen accepted a 10 per cent, reduction but retained their old conditions of work. Tho questions of a further 5 per cent, cut and new conditions of employment were the- subjects of a ballot by the seamen throughout New Zealand. RESULT OF BALLOT. The result of the ballot was not favourable to the acceptanco of a further 5 per cent, cut and new conditions. After the result of the balolt was known a further conference between the shipowners and the union was held without finality being reached on all tho proposals. At the conclusion of tho conference oil April 24, it was agreed that the new conditions offered the seamen last October should be put into effe'et as from May 1, and continue for one month; also, that a small committee of two representatives' fi'om each side should be set up to explore the possibilities of an amicable settlement of the matters remaining in dispute, and to report back to a full conference at the end of the month, i At all ports except Wellington the stop-work meetings of seamen held yesterday accepted this arrangement, but at Wellington it was rejected. It is understood that the shipawners are not willing to depart from the arrangement, and tho union is still considering whether tho arrangement, should bo endorsed or not. ' A' meeting of the Seamen's Union was held at 8 o'clock this morning, adjoining from 10 O'clock to 11 o'clock. After one and a half hours' further deliberation, tho meeting adjourned until 2 o'clock this afternoon. After the hold-up came into operation, the only ships to leave port besides tho scows and the trawler South Sea wero the Maori, Waikawa, and Rata. It is-believed that in the caso of these three ships the union gave the seamen a free hand aa to whether they would take them out of port, and tho seamen decided that they should leave. THE AFFECTED SHIPS. The passenger ships already held up by tho strike are the Maunganui for Sydney, the Arahura for Nelson, and tho Monowai for Auckland. The cargo vessels are the Waimarino, Orepuki, Tees, Awahou, and Kapuni. The passenger vessels due to leave port today are the Tamahine-f or Pieton, tha Kaitoa for Nelson, and the Eangatira for Lyttelton. If the Arahura had left port at midday it was intended that she should leave Nelson again tonight for Wellington^ but as she had not sailed well on in the afternoon there will not be- a passenger ship from Nelson arriving here tomorrow morning. The arrivals in port today were the Jlangatira, Kaitoa, Port Wxiangarei, and Gale. The Gael is due in this afternoon. The Taranaki arrived this morning, but she is not affected by the trouble, being a Home liner. The ships due tomorrow that may lie affected are the Inaha, Holmdale, Calm, Hawera, Kaimai, Wainui, and possibly the Maori and Tamahine. It is believed that the auxiliary scows ■H;ill not be affected.