WORK ON HOLIDAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1940, Page 8

WORK ON HOLIDAYS

WATERFRONT DISPUTE

QUESTION-SUB JUDICE

NON-UNION LABOUR

Reference the dispute on the Auckland waterfront regarding working cargo on holidays was made today by Mr. W. H. G. Bennett, general secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Employers' Association.

"In a recent Press Association message from Auckland," said Mr. Bennett, "it was stated that, 'as no- settlement has been reached after more than a year of the dispute between ship owners and the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers' Union on the question of work on holidays, no action is being taken by the union in response to a request to handle cargoes on three overseas ships on Easter Monday.'

"This statement," proceeded Mr. Bennett, "does not put the position correctly. The facts are: The Auckland waterside employers and the Auckland branch of the union discussed the question of work on the Christman and New Year holidays for 1938-39, and could arrive at no agreement. One company desired to work an outgoing mail and passenger steamer on Tuesday, December 27, 1938, this being the vessel's time-table date of departure. As negotiations for working December 27, as provided by the award, had failed as far as the employment of members of the union was concerned, the company employed non-members, who worked the ship, which sailed on time. On January 5, 1939, members of the union refused to work in harmony with the non-members who had worked on the vessel on December 27 and a dispute arose. The national committee was then asked for a ruling as to whether an employer has the right to work nonunionists if the members of the Waterside Workers' Union cannot reach an agreement to work on an award holiday.

"As this committee could not agree," concluded Mr. Bennett, "the question was referred to the Court of Arbitration. As the Court has not sa J at Wellington since the meeting of the national committee the dispute is still sub judice. The issue still to be determined, therefore, is whether the employers can work non-union labour when union members refuse to work."