WESTLAND TIMBER STRIKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 September 1945, Page 4

WESTLAND TIMBER STRIKE

SAWMILLS STILL IDLE The timber industry workers’ strike in Westland, affecting about 60 mills and approximately 1,000 men continues, and neither the employers nor the union had any suggestions to make to-day that there might be an early settlement. Mr. F. L. Turley, Secretary of the Union, said that before there was a resumption there would have to be another meeting of the men if further proposals were received. The text of the telegram received by the Union from the acting-Minis-ter of Labour, Mr. O’Brien, and considered at the meeting of the Union yesterday was as follows:—“Provided your men resume work immediately, the proposed meeting to discuss wet time payment will be’ held as early as it can be arranged. Any wet time payment decided on will be paid as from Monday next, the 17th September.” As reported in the “Star” yesterday the men decided unanimously to continue the strike until a guarantee was received that the employers would agree to a wet-time clause. Following the general meeting the executive communicated with Mr. O’Brien, who said the men must resume work before any conference would be held. The Westland Trades Council has called a meeting of affected unions for this evening to discuss the situation. The Council is acting at the request of the Westland Road Transport Drivers’ Union.

Mr. Turley in a statement on the attitude of the Westland employers says the members of the Union were tilled of having conference after confeience with no result but delay. The powers that be had guaranteed to the employers that the industry—and not the employers—would bear the cost necessary to provide for the Union’s modest request. In view of that guarantee, the action of the employers in refusing to grant the wet time clause in the Westland district was an attitude that the men failed to understand. It certainly was an attitude to which the employers in Westland should definitely give further consideration in the interest of the industry before it was too late.