STRIKE AT WARKWORTH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3438, 16 September 1913, Page 6

STRIKE AT WARKWORTH.

WILSON’S CEMENT WORKS HELD Ul‘. * I [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] AUCKLAND, Sept. Y 6. Word was received from Warltworth this morning that the employees of Wilson’s Portland Cement works had gone on strike.' ’ The reason the men give is that their demands for increased wages have not been granted by the directors of the company. The last agreement, made under the auspices of the Federation of Labor, expired in August. . Mr Geo. Elliot (Chairman •of directors of the company) when aproached by a reporter this morning, said the position was exactly as stated. The men had struck for higher wages, which the company was not prepared to five. He explained that the men hacfissued a warning that unless their demands were agreed to by Saturday they would strike. The directors were willing to enter into negotiations and went down to Warkworth on Saturday afternoon. They discussed the position with the men and offered to meet them' ill one or two particulars in the evening. However, the union representatives had announced that they wero not prepared to accept a compromise. Wages were tlm trouble, and they were quite satisfied with the conditions of labor. Unless the employers agreed to the whole of the demands made by the union, its representatives had decided to refer the matter back, to the workers. The demands of the men amount practically to fin increase all round of Is per shift—in some cases more, in some cases less. The immediate effect of the strike-is that about 140 men are idle and the works are idle.

Taking into consideration that four or five boats engaged in trade will have nothing to do, there will be in all about 250. men affected by the strike, quite, apart from further effects upon coal boats attacked to the industry.