CABLE’S MEN HOLD OUT FOR BETTER RATES ON WANGANELLA JOB

Grey River Argus, 24 May 1947, Page 3

CABLE’S MEN HOLD OUT FOR BETTER RATES ON WANGANELLA JOB

WELLINGTON, May 23. The boilermakers, welders and metal workers’ assistants who have been working casually on the waterfront have not returned to the Wanganella’s repair contractors, Cable and Co., despite efforts made yesterday by trade union officials. No new men returned to duty to-day and so far only slightly more than one-third of the former staff of 210 men had returned yesterday. Mr P. E. Warner, secretary of the Wellington Boilermakers’ and Metal Workers’ Union, and Mr C. G. Caswell, secretary of the Wellington branch of the Engineers’ Union, spent two hours on the waterfront, where Mr Warner asked the boilermakers and welders to go back to work on the staff of William Cable and Company, Ltd., to continue repairs on the liner Wanganella. There were 75 to 80 boilermakers and welders among 200 men who resigned from the staff of Cable and Co. on April 22. Some have since had casual employment on the waterfront, and are reported to be earning good money. Boilermakers and welders are the key men stated to be required to complete temporary repairs to the Wanganella before she moves out of the floating dock. The Employers’ Federation has declared that, the employers will not agree to the resumtpoi nof the tribunal on the Wanganella dispute until sufficient men are back at work with Cable and Company. The unions are anxious to have, the tribunal sit at the earliest possible opportunity to fix rates of pay for the repair work. Mr Warner accordinly visited men on the waterfront.

The Waterside Workers’ Union has admitted another 160 men to membership. It. was rumoured that up to 80 former members of the staff, of Cable and Company, Ltd., were given entrance to the union. The president, Mr A. C. Dellaway, declared to-night he could give this story a flat denial. There was only about one such man admitted.

Unionists who were formerly on the staff of Cable and Company and have not returned, declare that the firm has engaged a man from Auckland and another from Australia at 3s -6d an hour, well above award rates. They claim they are entitled to the same money. They say it is not at all certain that many more men will return to the'firm’s employ. The firm has previously denied that men are being engaged at higher rates.