Real Issue In Waikato Strike: Engineers’ Views

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1948, Page 6

Real Issue In Waikato Strike: Engineers’ Views

(P.A.) ' WELLINGTON, April 6. At the request of senior engineers at Mangakiho, the Professional Engineers’ Association issued a statement today dealing with, the Waikato hydro strike. The statement noted that the Workers’ Union was prepared to order the men back to work pending the finding of a tribunal, but with the proviso that the secretary of the Mangakino branch (Mr L. Clapham) was re-employed. The association’s statement said this proviso could have unfortunate results, in that it might delay a settlement of the dispute. “The dispute is between the New Zealand Workers’ Union and the Government over the right of the latter, on the recommendation of a senior engineer, to transfer one of its own employees,” said the statement. “At the end'of November eight of the senior engineers individually notified the engineer-in-chief in writing that unless authority was given for Mr Clapham to be removed from the job they would seek employment elsewhere. Mr Clapham’s employment at Mangakino was objected to on the grounds of his known propensity to cause trouble. After Ministerial approval, the Commissioner of Works himself went to Mangakino and directed the transfer of Mr Clapham to Auckland. “Issue Misrepresented “Every possible factor in the situation and its implications had been most seriously considered before we notified the engineer-in-chief of our intention. Nothing can alter the facts which led up to our decision. The difficulty is that we cannot carry on under the condition of organised disruption fostered by Mr Clapham. “Due to muddled reasoning or wilful intent, the issue before the men at Mangakino is being misrepresented by the union as an issue between the union and the engineers over a union principle. We say emphatically no work of this magnitude can function satisfactorily unless workmen elect their own representatives to negotiate with the management. Eut we say with equal emphasis that industrial morale and efficiency cannot be achieved unless all employees, staff and workmen alike, have a common interest in the steady progress of the work and approach all disputes with a spirit of co-operation. “Shock Tactics”

“Since the advent of Mr Clapham to the job long-established constitutional methods of procedure have been swept aside and replaced by shock tactics. There is no doubt whatever that Mr Clapham is the organising genius. Engineers trained in the management of construction projects and in daily touch-with the men cannot fail to learn both directly and indirectly how these things are inspired. “We think it desirable that the public should know that Mr Clapham is still dominating local union affairs. There is a barrage of propaganda, all being disseminated and directed by Mr Clapham. “In view of the announcement that Mr Clapham is contesting the national presidency of the union this Dominion-wide publicity of a false contention, that a union principle is involved, while misleading many of the rank and file, and prolonging the hardship occasioned by the strike, is obviously excellent propaganda.”