THE STRIKE SITUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1920, Page 3

THE STRIKE SITUATION

THE A.S.R.S.,RESUME. i LOCO MEN REMAIN OUj. RIFT BETWEEN LOCO MEN AND /A.S.R.S. By Telegraph.—Special to Guardian WELLINGTON, April 30. Negotiations for the settlement of the railway strike have been proceeding all to-day and have not proved successful, although an agreement appeared to be within reach at one stago. The negotiations have proved unexpectedly complex. It is necessary to'remember, in surveying them, that the two striking executives, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Locomotive Enaiiioors Firemen and Cleaners Associa tion are on bad terms with one another. Their quarrel is an old one. Mr Massey Reached Wellington last night, met the executive of the A.S.R.S., that is the Traffic Branch, soon after his arrival. He conferred with them again this morning and reached a settlement •

The basis of the settlement was the appointment of a Tribunal consisting of three representatives of each side, with an elected chairman. This tribunal was to be appointed within seven days and nas to make a recommendation to the parties.

Tlie railwayman ip the event of their rejection of the recommendations would he free to strike again. The A.S.R.S. Executive accepted this settlement and declared the strike off.

The Engineers, Firemen and Cleaners Association Executive, representing the Locomotive men met Mr Massey later. They were offered the settlement that had been accepted by the A.S.R.S. nun. The Loco executive considered that it had a grievance in the fact' that the traffic nien had been heard first, although the Loco Branch struck fir d. Tire Executive demanded certain concessions, including retrospective payment of any increased wages as from January Ist., 1919. Mr Massey refusecltq accept this condition and after discussing the position for over two hours, the Conference ended without a settlement and the Loco men remained on strike. —That is where the dispute stands tonight. • The A.S.R.S. members haye been instructed by their Executive to resume work, and they have 'been given to understand, that any man who refuses to work, will have to deal with the Railway Department, without the protection of his organisation. The Trans- „ port Workers Federation with, which the Traffic men are affiliated has endorsed the A.S.R.S. settlement. ,This Federation includes the Seamen, Waterside workers, Drivers and Tramivaymen. The Loco men are left to fight tneir battle unsupported. They have had communication with the Traffic men and the Transport Federation during the last 24 hours, and have adopted an attitude of uncompromising independence. Inquiries at the Wellington stations to-night showed that the A.S.R.S. members were willing to obey their executive. They would like to co-operate with the Loco men, and they aVe perturbed at the idea of manning trains driven by substitute drivers, but they consider that the attitude of the Loco men is unreasonable.

A "delegation of traffic men interviewed the Loco Executive and asked for information regarding the intentions of the E.F.C.A. The delegation indicated that the traffic men wanted an arrangement and did not wish to work with “scab” drivers. The Loco Executive sajej that it was seeking an independent settlement. The. Loco men are outnumbered by eight to one by the traffic men. Their refusal to join the traffic mpn in accepting a settlement that is endorsed by the Transport Federation, has created a strange situation. The A.S.R.S. is affiliated with the Federation. The E.F.C.A. is not affiliated and it appears to-night that the Loco men have placed themselves in a losing position. " . .... The trains in the meantime are stui held up, and the Royal trains, regarding which the Government is particularcannot proceed. The Railway Department plans to begin running trains to-morrow on a much reduce scale, and apparently the A.S.R.S. men will assist, thus' widening the breacn between the two organisations. it a safe prediction that the Loco men have taken np a losing position They may meet Mr Massey again to-morrow, but nothing Is arranged.

agreement endorsed. WELLINGTON, April 30. Tlie agreement arrived at by A.S.R.S. was considered and endorsed by tne Transport Workers Advisory Board.

tAM WAY AGREEMENT. WELLINGTON, fhjs Day. Au agreement >vas almost arrived at with tramwaymeu. Concessions weie made as to holidays, meal hours overtime and increase in wages, which mean further inoreases in fares, NOT AGREEING, WELLINGTON, April 30'. ’'The Loco Society is stated' to have desired to. fight its case alone without the A.S.R.S. interfering, being confident it 'could win on its own. 1 Petone workshops men stopped early yesterday as soon as the Executive decision was officially communicated. Pr NolrE ran in Wellington on *££ nfeht, though vertised. —n

LOCO MEN STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, April 3U

The Executive of the E.F. anel C. A. is firm in its attitude, said Secretary McArley to a “Dominion” reporter tonight.

“We have made clliims which we consider to bo fair and just.” Wo consider that, failing a settlement on the lines we have suggested, the alternative is for the Government to go through the schedule of wages and conditions, point by point, and arrive at a settlement.

“We are anxious to bring the dispute to a speedy settlement, and with that end in view we were prepared to accept a Conciliation Commission, as proposed by Mr Massey. If we are able to go through the wages and conditions, item by item, it will take a considerable time and prolong the dispute.

“Wo met the Prime Minister to-day in what we consider to be a fair way. We gave in to him in a good many points; or at least we asked him to concede one point, lie would not do it. That is where we stand to-night. Mr McArley added that the conference between the *Prime Minister and the Executive of the E.F. and C.A. had broken off completely, and no proposal lmd yet been made for its resumption. He could not tell what the future developments would he. The Prime Minister replied to-night to the statement that the Loco men had given way on several points, and that he had refused to give way on the one concession asked of him.

“All I can say,” lie stated, “is that the points that are supposed to be conceded were of no value at all. Whnt really happened was that with the assistance of Sir Francis Bell, I simply straightened up their language and ideas, and put them in a workable form, in which shape I was prepared to accept them. I offered to Mr McArley and his friends practically- the same conditions, which the other branches of the service had accepted.”

“Mr AcArley asked for other concessions, which I found it impossible to grant. The granting of these concessions to the Loco men would have been grossly unfair to the other railwayman and to the other branches of the public service.” /

STRIKE BALLOT. AUCKLAND, April 30.

The railway Officers’ Institute held a strike ballot to-day. Although they officially decline to make a statement as to the result of the ballot, it is understood it is in favour of a strike.

A.S.R.S. AND PRINCE. WELLINGTON, April 30

All parties to the railway dispute, it is stated, arp anxious \o facilitate tlie completion of the tour of the Prince ol Wales, and this desire lias been a factor in the negotiations. Members of the A.S.R.S. are pic pared to do-any work required in connection with the Prince’s train; but the railway authorities are dubious about the advisability of attempting to run a train, as long as any part ol the railway service is disorganised by tho strike. No risks can be taken with the Prince while lie is travelling or. the New Zeajand ynil,v?ay§. . *

AUCKLAND DECISION. ROTORUA, April 30. The Auckland Branch flf the Amalgamated Society qf Railway Servants has decided not to resume work until tlie strike of' the engine-drivers, firefnen, and cleaners is settled, This decision was reached at a meeting at the Trades Hall at which about 1000 railwayman were present. During the meeting a telegram 10m the President of the Society anil the Secretary in Wellington yvas rqag stiftin„. “That the strike of the Society bad been settled, and that members were to report for work immediately.

LOCO MEN CONTINUE STRIKE,

A.S.R.S, WILL WORK. WELLINGTON, This Day. Some difference of opinion seems to have arisen between the A.S, ~ . ,ll ‘ theLocomen Addegßoniromf^ ohjecfof < reaclih»g J an understanding The Loco Executive said the traffic men must please themselves about resuming trains with substituLi the Loco men’s stake, ana u. j cd to get a settlement m then o> ' V At a ingetipg fit men stated freriy that hy trains whoever ttiey no. HOKITIKA LABOUR- PARTY.

SUPPORTS THE RAILWAYMAN. Labour Vnvty, Umfolwh'S resolutions were carried unanimous > • pjokitika L .2frS S support. s jocort '.tfmluro bring pressure to bear on nlilvvay . Minister /» ’ u claims.” men to obtain tl deplores tbe ‘‘That this iiij' otl 0 tl k all Press manner in mislead tlie public is endeavouring ll d con nection with regard to the .» .‘X* visit of the between the sink its .general Antagonism to the righteous aspirations of the organised railway set ‘ “That this meeting tnitlier I stnke 'not ..ckleA" Union men, » tantamount to ° f r hC Zt 'urett not worthy of the descendants of our freedom-hiving pioneer forefathers.”

MAY DAY RESOLUTION. “fin the eve of Mav Day. the great Hokitika Labour Party renews with tllL wbrldng class of egery country of the world, an everlasting treaty of Leace ■ m d Good-will. Recognising that only

the ilhal emancipation and triumph of the world’s working class, irrespective of race, creed, or colour, can place the world beyond the pale of war and comparative barbarism, wo pledge ourselves to fight unceasingly towards that grand ideal, regardless of the gallows and dungeons of capitalism, that, we know, yawn to receive those who fight the battles of the working-class. Wo send our greetings to the triumphant workmen and soldiers of Russia; we send our best hopes for success to our struggling comrades in Germany; and'to the workers in every other country of the world, who have not yet arisen in the endeavour to throw off their chains, wo send a ( message of courage and hope for future victory.” j

ADDINGTON MEN’S DECISION

WELLINGTON, April 30.

At a largely’ attended meeting of the railway employees of the Addington Railway Workshops to-day the opinion was expressed that the North Island should nob be allowed to bear tho lofs of pay and it was resolved that the varhiis railway organisations in the South Island should ho levied upon with the object of paying the dependents of the men .a portion of the pay lost. ' '

Tliis decision was arrived at unanimously. . The executive was invited to communicate with all the (South Island Branches with a view to collecting the funds necessary.