MOVE AT AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 59, 9 March 1940, Page 14

MOVE AT AUCKLAND

MANY MEN DISMISSED

GOVERNMENT ALSO ACTIVE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, March 8.

A message from the Government asking the Auckland branch uf the Waterside Workers' Union to show reason why it should not be deregistered, and dismissal by employers of all men who declined overtime work were features of the situation on the Auckland waterfront today.

Since Wednesday the union has refused to work overtime till its claims for a new award covering waterfront conditions in New Zealand are met.

Apparently acting on instructions received from the headquarters of the shipping companies in Wellington, employers dismissed men who refused overtime work tonight, when the customary call was made about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

About 1000 men. were working on vessels today, and a large majority, all those on ships which normally would have worked overtime toniej^t, were put off work. Following the provisions controlling the Auckland Waterside Labour Bureau, a call for labour will be made in the morning,, discs being exhibited to all men except those dismissed. If work is refused the entire union will have failed to comply with award conditions, according to the claim of the employers, who hold that, in this event, the next move must come from, the Government.

A strong indication of the Government's intentions was given late this afternoon,, when the union was asked to give reasons why it should not be deregistered. This- action, together with that of the employers, will be discussed at a special stopwork meeting of the union.