AUCKLAND WHARVES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 63, 11 September 1937, Page 10

AUCKLAND WHARVES

THE MEN'S COMPLAINTS

A CLOSED DOOR

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND/ September 10.

Dissatisfaction with the aßeged unequal distribution of work on the wharves and the effect on non-unionists of the clause giving preference to members of the Waterside Workeiw' Union culminated in a decision b}y nonunionists to cease work today.'

At 9.45 a.m. a body of non-un;ionists, or "seagulls," as they are known on the wharves, were nominated to commence work on the Narbada, which Arrived from Calcutta. They started wte>rk at 10.30. At about 11.30 they were notified that 50 of them would not be required after lunch, as 50 unionists who had finished on the Hertford would be, taking their place. According to ; the agreement between the employers and the Waterside Workers' Union, i ionunion workers must cease work v^hen unionists are available.

The transfer of 50 men from ithe Hertford to the Narbada, however, u/as not well received by the non-unj on workers, all of whom left the l^arbada, and all the other non-unionists, to the number of about 500, were calftid ofl work from all ships in port. Seveijal men addressed a mass meeting of "sepgulls'Mn the afternoon, and a decisidn was reached to cease work until their demands .were met. It was also decideil to send delegates to meet members OS' the Auckland branch of the Ship;, owners' Federation demanding that, irei cases where non-unionists are detailed to a ship, they should be allowed to remain on that ship for the day. It^ is not intended in the men's demands that they should work a ship through, but that they should be allowed to work a day of eight hours once they are given a ship to work. . ■ CONFERENCE WITH OWNERS. A* conference between five delegates from the non-unionists and representatives of the ship owners followed. After considering the men's proposals in committee the owners' representatives informed the delegation that their demand for a full day's work once they started a ship could not be met owing to a clause in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act which gave preference to unionists if they were available. In the meantime the owners' representatives would communicate with Wellington for a statement on the matter. When, the result of the conference was communicated to the assembled men by two of the delegates it was decided to continue the stop-work policy until tomorrow morning, when another meeting would be called. The meetings were fairly orderly, but during the absence of the delegates at the conference with the owners' representatives, three speakers assembled the waiting men and stated that they had been informed that at 6 o'clock men obtained from the Placement Office would be sent to the ships. They added that six men from the Placement Office had attempted to work a ship earlier in the afternoon, but the unionists had refused to work with them, and the six men left the ship. When it was suggested that men should picket ships it was decided to await the result of the "erence. LONG-STANDING GRIEVANCES. Several matters in dispute, extending over a period of some months, have caused considerable dissatisfaction among non-unionists, and the transfer of unionists from the Hertford to the Narbada today precipitated trouble of long standing. Reference to many grievances was made by some of the speakers who addressed the men who had stopped work today. One of the "seagulls," when questioned, said there were over 1000 men employed as casual labour during unloading operations on ships, but the maximum employed constantly, even for small periods, was about 700. Of that number there were some hundreds who would join the Waterside Workers' Union if the union would admit them. They were unable to gain admission to the union. Though more than 100 men were set up as an auxiliary union some time ago, the majority of nonunionists were of the opinion that the class of man admitted to the auxiliary union was not as capable a worker, nor was he as experienced in waterside work as non-unionists. Various reasons were advanced by the man as to why they were unable to join the union, one being to the effect that many union men worked to a "go slow" policy and were not as capable of working with the speed of the "seagulls," many of whom were seamen. It was also suggested that, as the union men we're given preference under existing laws, the union desired to limit its membership in order that its members might obtain a greater share of the 'work offering and earn more money. FORTY-HOUR WEEK URGED. "One thing that does not seem fair," he added, "is that some union men start work at eight in the morning and work until 10 at night, and are netting unusually high wages. When we hear so much about more even distribution of wealth it seems there is great need for a more equal distribution of work among watersiders. The wharves will carry about 300 more men on a 40-hour week basis. The 40-hour week is insisted on in other industries, and we do not see why it should not be applied on the wharves. It only means that the business man has to pay for delay in unloading and it reflects on the expenditure of the working man who eventually buys the goods."

It was also alleged that while unionists were in a position to make a good living and, in some cases, high wages, the average non-unionist was lucky if he averaged 15s a week. Furthermore, most of the non-union men were on sustenance. If the 40-hour week were strictly adhered to on the waterfront there would be need for only a few men to remain on sustenance. More men would be able to earn at least a living wage, and the cost of unloading goods in Auckland would be greatly decreased.