WATERSIDERS' VERSION

Evening Star, Issue 25995, 9 January 1947, Page 6

WATERSIDERS' VERSION

FEDERATION PROMISED SUPPORT The National Executive of the Waterside Workers’ Union early in the dispute had offered to. resume normal work and negotiate for on early settlement, said Mr E. A. Napier, secretary of the Wellington hranch of the union, and a member of the National Executive, in a statement to-night. In return for an undertaking to resume normal hours, said Mr Napier, the union sought a written guarantee from the executive of the Federation of Labour that, if satisfaction' of the union’s claims was not achieved by January 14, when the union’s National Council was scheduled to meet, the federation would support the union in whatever action it might take to bring about a settlement. Ihe executives of the union and the federation met on the evening of December 23, when agreement along these lines was reached.

“ It is significant,” Mr Napier said, “ that at this meeting the president of the Federation of Labour, Mr A. W. Croskery, expressed appreciation of the reasonable attitude of the watersiders. We left tjie meeting with the understanding that the agreement reached would be drawn up in writing and handed to the secretary of the union, Mr T. Hill, and myself to sign next morning.” Mr Napier said that next afternoon, however, Mr Hill received a letter from the secretary of the federation, Mr K. McL. Baxter, stating that no guarantees could be given,' and recommending the watersiders to resume normal work and hand the matter over to the federation. A covering letter from Mr Baxter stated that the executive of the federation would be pleased to receive a reply defining the union’s attitude before noon on December 27, because the executive intended to release the letter to Mr Hill, explaining the federation’s views, for publication on that day. On December 28, since no guarantee of support would be given by the federation, the negotiations had broken down, Mr Napier concluded. This statement from Mr Napier was referred to-night to the secretary of the Federation of Labour, Mr. Baxter, who said lie had no comment to make other than to refer Mr Napier to the statement of December 24 which was presented to the secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Union. This statement pointed out that no guarantees could be given to any union that its claims would be satisfied before negotiations took place.