Alliance of Labour

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 20, 6 January 1923, Page 5

Alliance of Labour

GENERAL STRIKE BALLOT, WAGE REDUCTION QUESTION. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, Jan. 6. The New Zealand Alliance of Labour is taking a strike ballot, closing on January 15, on the question of ceasing work as a protest against the reduction in wages ordered by the Arbitration Court last year. The watersiders, who are affiliated with the Alliance, have also taken a separate ballot in respect to their own award, and the result is expected to be announced in a few days. Regarding the Alliance action the assistant secretary of’ the Employers’ Federation states that the employers generally, are not greatly concerned over the possibility of a general strike as they cannot imagine any leader who would accept the responsibility of ordering it, even had it been approved by ballot. The probability of the workers desiring to strike was oven more remote. A strike on a large scale would throw the Dominion back into the depression from which it was emerging, but it could not be successful as it would not - have public support. A general strike would be a severe blow to trades unionism and would be the end of the Alliance of Labour. An official of one important union says the Alliance has done nothing but talk ever since it came into existence. Its own organisation is its weakness, and by its own constitution it has stultified itself again and again. If the opportune tune to strike is now, lie says, the seamen must have been in the wrong when they left off work early in November. In Alliance circles it is stated that the ballot is no more threat at all as alleged, but will be acted upon if the verdict is favourable by. the executive calling out the affiliated organisations. It is considered that the workers will be able to stand the financial strain of a prolonged struggle. A gentleman closely in touch with the industrial situation says the strike ballot is a direct challenge to the arbitration system, and argues that the fact that the cost of living is falling is evidence that the employers have passed on the reduction of wages to the public.