HANDLING OF CARGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 43, 19 August 1941, Page 8

HANDLING OF CARGO

CONTRACT SYSTEM

WITHDRAWAL AT AUCKLAND

UNION NOTIFIED

(0.C.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Slow handling of cargo by Auckland waterside workers has resulted in the withdrawal of the contract system by the Waterfront Control Commission.

. A recent lettter from the commission stating that if an improvement were not made the contract system would be withdrawn was received by the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union. After discussion the union told the commission to go ahead and withdraw the system.

"Some good work has been done spasmodically under the contract system, but we are not satisfied with a group of the men," said Mr. R. E. Price, chairman of the commission, yesterday. "It is not desirable to say anything more at present." The contract system has been in operation at Auckland since last September. Under the system the commission contracted with the stevedoring companies to work cargo at certain rates for a .minimum wage. If the output of work was more than that j guaranteed for the time involved the' workers were to receive bonuses. THE UNION ATTITUDE. "We did not ] welcome the contract system -with open arms, as the public • were' led to believe," said Mr; H. Barnes, the-new-president of the union, last night. "We have been dissastisfied with the bonuses over the- last few weeks, which were, in fact, nil. For the rates laid down and the work done we should have had substantial bonuses." he said.

"The term 'contract' is a misnomer, as the union- is not a contracting partner," continued Mr. Barnes. "Waterside workers give hours of service such' as no. other workers in New Zealand give. We have continued to give good and faithful; service. I am • satisfied that the workers, in view of the long hours they are required to work, are giving, the maximum possible output. There have been cases of ships leaving port days ahead of schedule, and we have been paid nothing in the

way of bonuses."

Waterside workers were at the disposal of the shipping industries every day and night of the year, said Mr. Barnes. The average wage did not exceed £6 a week.