STRIKE SPREADS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1946, Page 6

STRIKE SPREADS

AIR FORCE STATIONS TWELVE HUNDRED MEN NOW INVOLVED NEGOTIATIONS FAIL (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 13. As the negotiations had not been concluded satisfactorily this morning, the airmen’s strike, which was started yesterday <at Whenuapai and Mechanics Bay, spread to-day to Hobsonville. The total of the strikers on Auckland statins has now reached almost 1200. The Acting Chief of the Air Staff, Air Commodore S. Wallingford, who arrived at Whenuapai yesterday, was to have addressed the strikers this morning. However, he returned to Wellington this morning without having addressed the men. Later a signal arrived from the Air Department stating that the question of Saturday work was under review and the result would be made known on Friday. The senior officer at Whenuapai advised the men to return to work, but they refused. Ohakea Men Out. According to a Press Association message, from Palmerston North, more than half the airmen at Ohakea decided to stay on strike this morning until the Air Department reviews the recent order requiring 50 per cent, of them to work on Saturday mornings. The' strike was independent, said a spokesman, but was also in sympathy with Whenuapai. This decision was reached after hearing an explanation by the commanding officer and a vigorous exhortation to the men by an 18-year-old airman. The commanding officer said that so far only five men had come to him through the proper channels and stated that they were given an undertaking when they joined up that there would be a five-day week. Also he told the men that the proper method for redress of their complaints was laid down in the regulations and by adopting other methods they had put themselves outside the law. He then said a new order was under review and a decision was to be promulgated before the week-end. He advised the men to get back to work and keep on side. After further discussion the men decided, unanimously to stop out, and are remaining in the social hall untail the Air Department decision is promulgated.

Number of Incidents. Although essential services were maintained at the three Air Force stations in Auckland yesterday, and there was no disorder, the stoppage of work has been marked by a number of incidents requiring tactful handling. This was particularly marked at Whenuapai, where the largest number of men was concerned, and where the problem of meals brought the -threat of a difficult situation at one stage. The airmen at Whenuapai were advised several times during the day by different senior officers to resume duty. The. response was negligible. Most services vital to the functioning of a station were manned at all stations. These included the signals, flying' control, hospital, and meteorological services, but at Whenuapai the crash tender crew did not turn out, and the vehicle was manned by a volunteer crew under the firemaster.

A spokesman of the men said tonight that the airmen were quite determined to remain on strike until they were given a 40-hour week. “The men feel they have been cooing with the work of the station on a 40-hour week quite satisfactorily up to now, and they see no reason why they should have to begin working on Saturday mornings,” said the spokesman. NO TROUBLE AT CANTERBURY STATIONS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 18. Although it was reported yesterday that 90 men of the Interim Air Force at the Weedons station intended i to strike to-day as a protest against Saturday work, the strike did not develop. The commanding officer, Squadron Leader L. D. Aherne, said: “Everyone is working and happy.” The men at Wigram are also working to-day. Their spokesman said that no meetings had been held to decide the course of action when the promulgation of longer working hours was made.