AUCKLAND GAS STRIKE

Grey River Argus, 22 December 1943, Page 3

AUCKLAND GAS STRIKE

FOR WAGE INCREASE 3d Hour All Round Asked (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 21. The gas hold-up in Auckland continued to-day, and at the moment there seems little prospect of an early settlement. Four hundred gas employees <<and allied tradesmen ceased work and the plant is idle. The company says that as a result of the strike the containers will be empty to-day, and some 40,000 homes dependent upon gas as the only means of cooking may be without gas during Christmas. 'The rejection by the men of the recent finding of a disputes committee concerning the union’s earlier, demand for a 20 per cent, increase in wages is said to be the cause of the strike. In a - statement concerning the dispute, Mr. Worley, the manager of the companji, said that on November I a general meeting of members of the Gas Workers’ Union sent a demand for a 20 per cent, all round increase in wages. A strike was averted at that time by the Government setting up a disputes committee under the chairmanship of the Industrial Mr. J. A. Gilmour. A thorough'investigation was made into the whole of the company’s manufacturing activities. The finding of the Magistrate came to hand on Saturday morning. A general meeting of the Gas Workers’ Union was held on Monday to consider the finding. The meeting unanimously decided to reject me finding and promptly went on strike, said Mr. Worley. ‘‘They have submitted a further demand to the Government for a general increase in wages all round of 3d an hour, and intimated that they desired a decision by noon if they were to return to work. The demand for a general increase is a direct threat to the Government stabilisation issue.

The men met again and in spite of a telegram from Wellington advising them to return to work, they remained out. Throughout Monday the plant was deserted except for executives.

'The men held another meeting this morning, and it is understood, put alternative proposals: (1) That the?/ be given an all-round increase of threepence an hour, and (2). that the Government should take over Hie gas works and operate them on a co-operative basis, the same as 'he Waikato mines.

It is reported that the Government, after a meeting of Cabinet, definitely refused these demands and informed the men that they should return to work immediately. The men considered the Government’s reply and resolved to remain on strike.

The gates at the gas works are shut and the manager has notified industries that there will be no gas this week.

Mayor Allum, as Chief Warden, is calling the wardens together tills afternoon, with a view to discussing organising cooking arrangements tor hospitals and the public. One of the most serious aspects ot the strike is the grave threat to industries, many of which are on war production. Some will have to close at least a section of the works, but industries, with alternative heating plants have switched over to emergency equipment. In many cases, however, this will not allow full production being maintained. in homes this morning real hardship was for those entirely dependent on gas. Hotel managers view the situation grimly, although struggling along with cold meals and alternative cooking arrangements, including fires in the open. Some of the small restaurants in the city have to close for the time being. The curtailment of th c gas supply affects about. 200 industrial establishments, including many engineering and essential manufacturing concerns, as well as some hundreds ot clothing factories. The extent ot the demand from some of these industries is revealed in the fact that two of the biggest draw off each day as much gas as would supply towns such as Hamilton, New Plymouth and Napier. , . Meantime, an effort is being made at the works to keep the retorts not with the company’s foremen and some non-union labour in order that production may be taken up quickly if a' settlement is reached. No skelton staff was left, by the union for this purpose and it the company is unsuccessful in preventing the’plant from becoming cold, it will require some days to bring production back to normal. Hope of Settlement UNION MEETING THIS MORNING. MEN' TO BE READY FOR WORK. PA. AUCKLAND, Dec. 21. 'Although the strike of 400 employees of the Auckland Gas Conrpany took a more serious turn today, some hope of a settlement had appeared at the end of the day. A joint announcement was made by Mr F. Craig, the president of the Auckland Trades Council, and Mr A. Bell, the secretary of the Auckland Gas Employees’ Union. They advised the employees of the company that, as there is a possibility of their dispute being settled, they should attend a meeting to-morrow morning prepared for work. It was stated that the Auckland Trades Council and the Gas Employees’ Union had opened up negotiations, and that, if the workers agreed, work might be resumed immediately without further inconvenience to the public. In order to get through the business as soon as possible, the time of the meeting, to be held in the Trades Hall, has been brought forward from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m. The manager of the company, Mr R. Worley, stated that, if the men started work in the morning it was possible gas would be available by Friday afternoon. I There was a failure of negotiations with the workers this morning. This was followed by a call by the company, act ing ' upon instruction, for volunteer labour to man the works. The company received many inquiries, but not enough labour was offering to start the works to-night.

Government’s Attitude

GAS SUPPLY MUST BE RESTORED. HON. PTC. WEBB’S ADVICE TO MEN. P.A. WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. “It is unthinkable that the public should suffer, 'as they undoubtedly will, as the result of the action Of the workers, and, even at this late stage, the workers will be well advised seriously to consider whether wiser counsels should prevail, and so end the present deadlock.” said the Minister of Labour, Hon. P. C. Webb in a statement to-night, referring to the stoppage of work at the Auckland gasworks. Failm? this, said Mr Webb, the Government would have no ontion but to meet the situation by all of the means at its disposal. The Minister . outlined the history of the dispute, and the events leading up to the appointment of the

Disputes Committee by the Minister, consisting of three workers’ representatives and three representatives cf the employers, with Mr Gilniour, SM. as chairman. Unfortunately, a majority of the members of the committee were unable to reach agreement, said Mr Webb, and the responsibility for making the mittee’s decision was accordingly l«ft to the chairman. Mr Gilmour, who said that ho could not, in due regard -to all of the existing circumstances, make a decision increasing wages generallv; but he had brought the Auckland rates more into I'ne with those at present prevailing in Wellington.