WHARF UNION AND MINISTER: REPORT ON NEGOTIATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1948, Page 4

WHARF UNION AND MINISTER: REPORT ON NEGOTIATIONS

A report on the discussions held between members of the national executive of the Waterside Workers’ Union and the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, during the past three weeks on the reconstitution of the Waterfront Industry Commission, was given Greymouth waterside workers by their delegate, Mr A. J. Panther, at the monthly stop-work meeting this morning. The meeting, which was well attended, lasted from 8 o’clock until 11.15, and it endorsed the actions of the national executive.

The need for the commission again to function so that pressing matters, such as an increase in the guaranteed weekly wage and outstanding disputes, could be presented, was stressed at this morning’s meeting, reported the union’s secretary, Mr Panther, in a subsequent statement. He pointed out that to avoid the publicity that had been given the discussions on the Mountpark dispute, the national executive had decided to issue no statement to the press or even to the respective unions until some finality had been reached, but as three meetings had been held without result, it had been decided to give a resume to members. Accordingly, members of the executive were this week addressing all branches of the union in New Zealand, and he, having given a report to the Greymouth. branch this morning, would give a similar report to the Westport branch tomorrow morning. A further conference between the national executive and the Minister would be held next Tuesday at Wellington, said Mr Panther, and it was hoped that a settlement would be reached then. While agreeing that the issue at present was not one that was likely to cause immediate trouble on the waterfront, he pointed out that the need for a reconstituted commission was seriously viewed by the union. As an instance of the need for this to be achieved as soon as possible, he stated that though a universal 10s a week wage rise had been granted by the Arbitration Court last October, the guaranteed weekly wage of waterside workers still remained at the same level, though working rates had been increased by 2|d an hour, and it was felt that the amount paid to, waterside workers for time lost when work could not be carried out should be increased.