AUCKLAND WHARF WORK STOPPED: WAGE RISE PROTEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22869, 12 February 1949, Page 6

AUCKLAND WHARF WORK STOPPED: WAGE RISE PROTEST

(P.A.) . AUCKLAND, Feb. 12. No work was done on the Auckland waterfront after midday yesterday and the men will not return to the wharves until Mondav morning. This action has been taken by the Auckland Waterside Workers Union as a protest against the interim decision of the Waterfront Industry Commission to increase wages by 2£d an hour. The union's claim was for an extra Is an hour.

A stop-work meeting of the union, which started at 1 o’clock in the afternoon and lasted for an hour and threequarters, carried a series of resolutions. The secretary, Mr. R. E. Jones, said the meeting had the fullest possible attendance. It was addressed by the national president. Mr. H. Barnes, and the national vice-president, Mr. A. Drennan who returned from Wellington yesterday.

Mr. Jones said the resolutions carried were as follows: "This branch resolves, as an immediate protest at the Waterfront Industry Authority’s farcical decision on our wages claims, that no work be performed until 8 a.m. on Monday. Further we request an immediate meeting of the national executive in order to secure a just decision on our claims for an increase.’’ In further resolutions the meeting expressed no confidence in the national executive of the Federation of Labour and pledged support to the Carpenters’ Union in its wages claims, added Mr. Jones. The latter resolution was: “This union will give every support to the carpenters in their wage adjustment struggle, and we request the national executive that action be taken if prosecutions are taken against the carpenters' officials.” It was thought on the waterfront that the union would also adopt a 40-hour week from Monday by refusing evening and Sa " r day morning work. Mr. Jones said, however, that this had not been discussed at the meeting. By their action t'ne waterside workers lost four hours’ work yesterday afternoon, three hours overtime last night and they will lose a further four hours’ overtime this morning. Because of the stoppage, the sailing dates of several ships have been delayed. Five ships will be in the stream today.