DEMANDS BY DOCKERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 930, 31 January 1924, Page 5

DEMANDS BY DOCKERS.

HIGHER WAGES WANTED. EVILS OF CASUAL LABOUR. LONDON, Jan. 29. The unions involved in the dockers’ trouble are the Transport Workers, with 300,000 members; the National Union of General Workers, 443,000; the National Amalgamated Union of Labourers, 170,000; the United Order of General Labourers, 150,000; and the Amalgamated Society of Enginemen, 40.000. The latter was established in 1923. The claims include those by the key meii, who are asking for an increase of 2s 6d, as compared with the older unions’ claim for 2s, which would raise the wage to 12s daily. The last-named union was not represented at the present conferences and is not bound by Mr Justice Bevin’s judgment. The other unions include transporters, such as omnibus men, so not all are necessarily involved. The Daily Chronicle says: ‘ ‘The threatened strike at the ports has few features in common with Mi Bromley’s wanton escapade. The employers say they cannot afford another 2s, but one way out is deeasualisation. The trouble is that most dockers cannot count on getting a sufficient number of hours’ work weekly. The evils of casual labour at the docks have been exposed again and again, but except at Liverpool there has been no attempt to end them. If the leaders of the shipping and trading world put their heads together, they could abolish it, and until they do the devastating business of blighting strikes will continue.” —A. and N.Z. cable.

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. Received January 31, 12.15 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 30. The council of the port labour employers has accepted the proposals of the Transport and General Workers’ Union for a conference to discuss the dockers’ strike threat. —A. and N.Z. cable. COST OF RAILWAY STRIKE. LONDON, Jan. 29. It is estimated that the railway strike cost the locomotive men £90,000 and the firemen £60,000. The union disbursed £230,000 while the railway companies lost £2,000,000. Mr Bromley, in a statement, says the wages saved to drivers and firemen under the new mileage clause will exceed the cost of the strike to the union. The companies affirm that the locomotive men could have obtained as much before the strike.—A. and N.Z. cable. LONDON, Jan. 29. In the terms for the railway strike settlement the railway companies declaro that they never contended that the decisions of the Wages Board were obligatory but ill afc they were justified *n giving effect thiieto. The companies are prepared to alleviate the hardship which it has been represented would be involved in the decision to pay the drivers and firemen on a mileage basis so that 130 miles would bo equal to the day's pay, but the mileage would be increased to 140 in July and 160 in January, 1925, unless in the interval it was agreed otherwise. The companies undertake that there will be no dismiss Us arising out if application of the decision. All strikers presenting themselves for work within a reasonable time will be reinstated as soon as practicable without preference to senority. The signatories agree to use every endeavour to secure that all railwaymen worktogether amicably. Aliy proved breach of this condition will be a case for disciplinaryaction by tlie companies.—Reu+er.