FIGHT FOR LIFE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 7 December 1946, Page 8

FIGHT FOR LIFE

MEN’S ATTITUDE SERIOUS SITUATION BLOW AT UNION'S HEART (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. “As far as we are concerned this is a life and death struggle for the preservation of our union’s existence,” said the secretary of the Wellington branch of the Watersiders’ Union, Mr. E. A. Napier, in a statement to-day on the effect of the recent decision of the commission. Mr. Napier paid particular attention to amendments affecting the conditions of work, and said those amendments struck at the heart of the security and protection that the union organisation afforded its members. Commission Control Supported

“We support commission control and we know that by reasonable co-opera-tion that system of control could function,” he said. “If an insidious attack is made at the very basis of our organisation under the cover of a friendly hand, we are compelled to fight a life and death struggle. That is how serious the situation is. “It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister did not have the union’s case before he expressed his opinion, as he states that the future of the commission is at stake. Wc state that the very existence of the union is at stake.”

The position was that although the recent order in relation to the guaranteed wage made provision for certain payments for daily attendance, the union was not satisfied but considered

that the decision certainly improved the situation. The basis of the monthly “uarantee might mean nothing to the "■’aior nm-ts. but it did establish a principle with which the union concurred. "At that point th°rc is a basis for negotiation.” he said. “What is not apparent to those not understanding 'he implications nf the order,” Mr. Napier continued “is that the proposed "mendments 1c Clause 17A and 178 of the order strike at the heart of the seeuritv which the organisation affords workers and at something we have held for 30 years.” • Terms of Employment Up explained that Clause 17A pro-'•idc-i fiat a man startin'* a job should finish tbp ioh for was en'fa"ori. or "pv other ioh to which he '-*lol** I--, * -"11’-'pr"rU and goansc* ITB provided that the ioh for which a man s or*' —"ed should he stated at the time of the engagement, and should be limited hv the employer to the ship. hafNi. wharf or lighter named. A man copid be transferred to any other hatch on iim same ship. “If thnv are to effect a relaxation on 'hose pi puses then anv of the imorovemorits coined over years w'll be nulUOod.” ho said. “’This position is not readilv understood bv those not fully conversant., and attempts are being made to make it appear that the wateraiders pro refusing some gift offered to them. T he reason f or the tenacity displayed bv the emn’nvers in holding to the commission decision should be selfevident.”