UNEMPLOYED SEAMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18322, 12 February 1923, Page 9

UNEMPLOYED SEAMEN.

RESULT OF THE STRIKE.

CREWS STILL MIXED. (

FEW VACANCIES ON SHIPS.

Many seamen and firemen are still unemployed at Auckland, principally owing to the seamen's strike. About 160 of the strikers have obtained employment on vessels at this port since the trouble ended. The recommissioning of the Flora and Rakanoa, which had been laid up indefinitely owing to a falling off in trade absorbed about 40 men, who otherwis« would have been idle. The replacement of unqualified seamer by qualified ones after the strike did nol relieve matters greatly, owing to so roanj of the volunteer seamen being qualified. The shipping companies concerned are al manning their vessels with mixed crew/ of union and non-union seamen. The strike was responsible for a n " m . ber of seamen and firemen who had taken positions on shore or who hac dropped out of the union for various reasons, resuming employment at sea This has helped to swell the ranks of the unemployed seamen. The dropping oi the " preference to unionist clause lr the award has resulted in a number oi non-unionists applying for work. With out the preference these men have now an equal chance of employment with th( unionist seamen. This competition foi vacancies means that a large number oi th* men who went on strike will bo un employed for & long time. . The Searoeo'a Union is helping its un employed members to a certain extent bj continuing the strike pay. Married mer are receiving 30s a week and 2s 6d foi each ch : ld, while single men receive £1 per week.