MARKING TIME

Evening Star, Issue 25996, 10 January 1947, Page 6

MARKING TIME

THE WATERSIDE TROUBLE ISSUE OF NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETINC AWAITED /' OFFICIALS MAY BE OUTVOTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 9. The watersiders’ case in the current dispute with the Government, the Federation of Labour officials and the ship owners, will soon be put to the rank-and-file of trade unionists throughout the country. The union leaders plan to. distribute a pamiphlet setting out their claims, the purposes for which they are continuing to resist pressure from the Government, and their view of the negotiations so far conducted. No further development in the. 'dispute is yet apparent. The national president of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr H. Barnes, said that he did not expect there would be further change in the situation until the national council of the union meets on Tuesday. Whether the Government intends to take further action before Tuesday is not yet apparent, but the forces opposed to the union attach great significance to Tuesday’s meeting, claiming that the national officials will be outvoted and that the council will favour a return to normal hours. They appear to be depending upon this meeting for the next development. The union leaders, however, are confident that unity will be maintained and that when they have stated their case to the other sections of the ,rank-and-file of the trade union movement, they will find strong support. Thirty-three members, representing all ports, will attend next Tuesday’s conference of the union’s national council. It is an urgently called special conference and will discuss every aspect of the dispute.