WATERSIDE TROUBLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 29 November 1927, Page 5

WATERSIDE TROUBLE

SEAMEN MAY BE INVOLVED

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australia i & N.Z. Cable Association!

SYDNEY, 28th Nov

Prevalent waterside opinion is that unless a settlement is reached before Wednesday the result of the shipowners’ ultimatum will be that the Waterside Federation Committee will declare all overseas and interstate ships black, thus involving the seamen. The watersiders claim that trouble can he averted if the owners agree to a conference, enabling the men to express their grievances and have them adjusted. The owners reply that the federation having declared resumption of normal work under existing conditions was impossible, it lias now, in seeking a conference, thrown off the mask of a pretended desire to reach the Arbitration Court, which was actually the very last thing they desired.

KIWTTEA DECLARED BLACK

SYDNEY, 28th Nov.

The Union Company’s steamer Kiwitea was placed on the black list at Newcastle, where she arrived with a load of zinc from Hobart. Wharf labourers refuse to unload the cargo because it was loaded by the Zinc Company’s own employees.

OWNERS REFUSE TO NEGOTIATE AWARDS MUST BE HONOURED (Received 29th November, 11.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. At a meeting of the watersiders’ management committee, fears were expressed that if the shipowners carried out their threat to tie up ships in the event of their demands being disregarded by the watersiders, despite the committee's resolution rejecting the terms proposed, the dispute would reach a stage which was not contemplated by the union when the original overtime strike was given effect to.

Later the committee announced that although no reply had yet been received from tlie shipowners, the union was still prepared lo negotiate with the object of endeavouring to arrive at a settlement in order to obviate taking the drastic measures contemplated by the shipowners. Port Phillip stevedores, who handle all overseas cargo in Port Melbourne, decided to support the watersiders’ strike.

Representatives of the shipowners stated that they will refuse to confer with delegates, of the watersiders. Even if the men decide to return on normal conditions on Wednesday the owners will hold to the letter of their ultimatum, and if the men decide to resume on Wednesday the owners will not open any negotiations until the matter comes before the Arbitration Court. Tlie terms of awards and agreements will have to be honoured until the matter is before the Court.