HINDERING NEGOTIATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21098, 10 May 1932, Page 9

HINDERING NEGOTIATIONS

THE HIKURANGI MINERS APPEAL BY UNION PRESIDENT [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 10. A serious view is taken by Mr A. Robinson, president of the Northern Miners’ Union, of the refusal of the Hikurangi coal miners to return to work unless the company withdraws the notices of dismissal. He said that since returning from Hikurangi he had endeavoured to persuade the president of the Coal Owners’ Association to proceed with the negotiations for a new agreement as far as the Waikato men were concerned. The owners, however, were not prepared to reopen negotiations until tho Hikurangi men resumed. “ We have again appealed to them to return to work, pointing out that in tho event of their remaining out collective bargaining will cease in the industry. The delegates who took part in the conference with the owners have returned to their branches and will call meetings this week, and recommend that appeals he made to the Hikurangi men to resume work and thus leave the road clear for negotiations for a new agreement.” Meanwhile the owners have been asked to continue the present agreement beyond its expiration dale (May 16), but" nothing definite has been decided.