WATERSIDE STOPPAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18553, 10 November 1923, Page 10

WATERSIDE STOPPAGE.

DISPUTE IN DUNEDIN.

.WTNCHMEN AND WAGES.

[BY TELEGBAPH. — ASSOCIATION.] :, DUNEDIN. Friday. Work on the Dunedin waterfront camo to an abrupt standstill thia morning, when the waterside workers refused to unload the City of Birmingham. . THo vessel brings a cargo of case oil, and. in accordance with the award, men handling oil in the hold receive larger wages than those above hatches. The waterside workers wen dissatisfied with this, and desired the winchmen and hatchmen to he included, hence the dispute. • Calls for labour we: made to-day by a representative of the City of Birmingham only, and when there was no response the employers issued instructions that no men <vere to be engaged until the > City of Birmingham was manned. Consequently the Dorset and Trelyon, which arrived - before the City of Birmingham, are the only vessels that were being worked today. •Several members, of the executive of the Watersiders' Union gave a somewhat different version of the dispute to-day. They said that men were quite willing to work cargo to which they were accustomed, but when the City of Birmingham arrived the winchmen were short by three, and others were called upon to do tho work. The men called upon were unused to such work, and refused to handle the oil. Certain, men were accustomed to certain classes, of cargo. Some, for instance, never handled coal, and others did not touch oil. The watersiders complain strongly of the employers' action, which, they claim,.is high-handed, and they are treating it as a lock-out. When the Corinna arrived this morn,ing no call for labour was made. The Karamea, on entering the port this morning, was ordered to berth at Port Chalmers, where, if the dispute is not settled, she will be discharged. There are 250 union men unemployed.