WORK WITH ITALIANS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 167, 14 June 1940, Page 6

WORK WITH ITALIANS.

WATERSIDERS REFUSE. '-f Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, June 13. The . question whether two members of the Waterside Workers’ Union who are of Italian extraction should be permitted to work on ships at this port caused some discussion before work was started to-day on the ships concerned. A gang of Port Chalmers workers were assigned to a. ship at Dunedin and among them was one of the men mentioned. However, the remainder of the gang refused to work with this man, and, had he not elected to stand down, there might well have been longer delay, for the question would have arisen whether the refusal of the men to work amounted to a strike, which in wartime would undoubtedly be regarded very seriously, whatever the reason for it.

At tliis stage the matter was referred to an employer of labour, who was of the opinion that the men had taken a proper attitude in refusing to work with a man they regarded as an enemy alien and he also refused the services of the man when offered for another shin in port. "

In certain circumstances an employer may be proceeded against by the union for refusing to accept labour offered him by the union, but, in view of the attitude of union members themselves, any such action appears highly improbable. No information was available this evening regarding the proposals of the union in regard to its italian members.