THE BOOKMAKER STRIKES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7838, 19 April 1886, Page 6

THE BOOKMAKER STRIKES.

Another " little difficulty " has arisen in connection with the boot manufacturing trade in Christchurch, though this time it is only of a local character, affecting only the employees of one firm, Messrs Suckling Brothers. THE MEN'S STATEMENT. We are informed by a representative of the Operative Bootmakers' Society that the firm in question, some ten days ago, discharged one of their hands, a benchinan, who was ' a rather prominent officer of the Society. He enquired tho reason for his dismissal, but could get no satisfactory answer. On his asking whether it was on account of his connection with the Society, the members of the firm refused to tell him whether it was so or not. The matter was laid before the Committee of the Society, who interviewed Messrs Suckling Bros., but could not get any more definite information. The Secretary . to the Society then wrote to the Boot Manufacturers' Association — : . the employers on the' subject, and that Association communicated with Messrs Suckling Brothers, asking the reason for the man's dismissal. The reply was that his services were not required. The Men's Society brought the matter again under the notice of the Association, and that body reiterated their request for the reason of the firm's action, stating that the Association considered it a bad principle to strike at individual members of the Society on account of the action of the whole body. The reply of the firm was to the effect that they had nothing further to say on the subject. The Association then informed the Society that they washed their hands of all' blame in the matter, as they - had no- power to compel Messrs Suckling to give a reason for what they had done'. A general meeting of the Operatives' Society was then held, at \?hich it was decided to request the firm to reinstate the man, and that,. failing compliance, the men in the factory should strike work. This request was delivered to Messrs Suckling yesterday, and was met by a decided refusal. The. weekly hands in the employ of the firm accordingly gave the necessary week's notice, and the piece workers announced that they would leave as soon as they had completed the jobs they are at present engaged on. There are about eighteen men employed in jjjihe factory, all members of the Society. On Saturday morning the firm advertised for non-TJnion men. THE POSITION OF THE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION. A prominent member of the Manufacturers' Association states that that body has nothing whatever to do with the matter in dispute between Messrs Suckling and their men. When tho dispute began the Men's Society enquired of the Association whether there was any intention on their part to "boycott" the man who had been discharged. The reply was that the Association had no such intention whatever. At the same time they recognise the right of a master to dismiss a man if he thinks fit, without giving a reason for his action. MEBSEB SUCKXINCJ'S STATEMENT. Messrs Suckling Brothers state that they discharged the man simply because they

did not farther require his services. The firm does not belong to the Masters' Association. Thai body addressed enquiries to Messrs Suckling on the matter, eliciting from them only the above-mentioned reason (which they consider quite sufficient) for their action. They on Friday received notice to reinstate the man in four hours, or the shop would be struck. This they declined to do, and their hands, with the exception of two or three non-Union men, have now struck. Though not parties to the recent agreement between the employers and the operatives, they state that they have observed its terms in every particular ; so far, indeed, that recently, when Mr N.J. Suckling wished to remove his son, who has been for some eighteen months employed in the factory, to another department in order to further him in his knowledge of the trade, this was peremptorily objected to by the men, and the firm submitted to what they consider the unjust dictation of the operatives. Since the man in question had been discharged, additional reasons, they assert, had transpired, in themselves sufficient to prevent their re-employing him, even if they were willing to entertain the Operative Association's request. [Per Pbess Association.] AUCKLAND, Apeil 17. A meeting of the Bootmakers' Operatives Union of Foresters considered the question of appointing a Committee to meet a similar Committee of the employers. After an animated discussion, in which the men appeared as firm as ever in sticking out for their demands, a resolution was passed agreeing to send a Committee todiscuss the matter and report. Resolutions of sympathy and promise of relief were'reported to have been received from other Unions. A circular was ordered to be sent out by the Trade and Labour Congress to all Unions in the Colony asking for help to maintain the strike.