WATERSIDE LABOUR

Evening Star, Issue 22631, 24 April 1937, Page 10

WATERSIDE LABOUR

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—As president of the Dunedin Waterside Workers' Union, I feel it my duty to make some comment on the article in the ‘ Star ’ of the 20th instant concerning the statements of Mr M'indoe, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. If Mr M‘.lndoe has any trouble with the men he may employ to do waterside work, there is a vefy efficient channel through which all complaints and disputes are passed to be dealt with. If an employer of labour on the waterfront complains abput any member or members of the union, that complaint is dealt with by the local Disputes Committee, consisting of three representatives of the union and three of the employers., Should they fail to agree the matter is to the National Disputes Committee in Wellington, comprising four representatives of each side. Should this body fail to agree, the matter is referred to the Court of Arbitration.

Arising out of .Mr Al‘lndoe’s comments, the union which I represent has been referred to by some person claiming to be closely connected with shipping in Dunedin. The union representatives and the local shipping employers had a meeting at which the employers totally dissociated themselves from the statements appearing in your paper.

Your informant also referred to the exhnrbitnnt wages made by the watersides. ''be general cargo rate is 2s 8d an h;>--r. Hth extra rate for the hnr ■ <>! es. 1 1 i• • • >a 11 y dirty cargoes. These rates of pay were agreed upon

between the' watersiders’ representatives and the principals of the shipping companies. If big wages are earned on the waterfront in any one week, the men would be engaged in handling dirty cargoes, such as sulphur and phosphates, and working long hours. Your informant also conveniently forgot to mention the many weeks' in the year when the watersiders earn little or no wages at all. I submit that your action in publishing these remarks was distinctly unfair to the men on the waterfront, and was quite uncalled for. But, 'at the same time, your informant should have the fullest opportunity to ventilate his grievances. I suggest two ways of doing so —firstly, by attending the stopwork meeting of the union on May 5, between the hours of 8 and 10 a.m., or, secondly, should that date not be convenient, I shall be) very pleased to convene a meeting of my executive on any date suggested by him.—l am, etc., April 23. David Copland. ,