WILL THEY STRIKE?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14868, 20 December 1911, Page 10

WILL THEY STRIKE?

..LABOURER'S' CLAIMS REPLY TO QUARRY-OWNERS. FRIENDLY CONFERENCE WANTED. "THE WEAPON OF THE SACK." Tins situation in connection with the general labourers is rapidly assuming a more serious aspect. Both sides exhibit determination, and those who should bo in a position to place a true value on the attitude of either party, believe that the next day or two will see important developments. The union" have already received unfavourable replies from the contractors and quarry-owners in connection . with their demands, and are evidently postponing further action till the result is ] ascertained of tho conference of suburban local bodies to-morrow evening, when the j question will be discussed. ' • Tho following letter, signed by Mr. P. Fraaer, president, and Mr. F. W. Arus, secretary, of the Labourers' Union, was sent yesterday to Mr. 0. Grosvenor, secretary, of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association : —" Yours of the 16th inst. to hand, and will in due course be considered by our union. \ On behalf of tho executive, wo welcome avowal of the j fact that the Auckland quarry and scoria pit owners, realising their class interest, have placed themselves under the man- | agement of tho Employers' Association. The lesson for the workers is obvious, and, as a consequence,- wo anticipate a largo and rapid influx of members and unions into the New Zealand Federation of Labour. Tho workers in the quarries in and around Auckland are members of this union, and it will be the business of our organisation,, and of tho federation, to see to it that their claims for betterment in the conlitious of their daily employment are n«t contemptuously ignored, without having at least some little say in the matter. We quito bolieve that organised employers would prefer to deal with workers individually. This pious wish is quito in keeping with tho bullying tactics of capitalism everywhere. The weapon of the sack held over tho workers, who, to provide a subsistence for themselves, their wives, « and , their .'■families, have often to work under conditions well nigh' intolerable, has always been supreme favourite with the kind and considerate employers. That individuals, some of them loud in their profession of Christian and humanitarian principles, should desire to have their labourers at - such, a disadvantage seems to -m- the final condemnation of, capitalistic ethics. The same labourers, however, prefer collective bargaining, and we again express this union's* desire to meet in friendly conference, to try to arrange improved working conditions. , That your association has decided to ignore this union in nowise renders .our organisation unconstitutional or irresponsible, nor alters the fact that working agreements such as we, desire have been arranged by the Federation "of Labour for a number of years, and have been scrupulously adhered to by the unions,concerned." •