WORK REFUSED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23599, 7 March 1940, Page 8

WORK REFUSED

CALL FOR OVERTIME AUCKLAND WATERFRONT DECISION BY THE MEN CLAIMS FOR AGREEMENT A decision to refuse to work overtime until claims for a new award covering waterfront labour in New Zealand have been met was reached at the monthly slopwork meeting yesterday of the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers' Union. Overtime is usually worked to 10 p.m.. with special overtime to midnight to facilitate sailings of vessels, and yesterday afternoon's call was declined, unionists refusing to work after 5 p.m. As no direct contact was made during the day between the union and employers. there was no suggestion last night of any local conciliation. The union's decision will not affect work during the day, but for many vessels it will mean the loss of a third of a day's working time.

Overseas Ships in Port There were seven overseas ships of an aggregate gross tonnage of nearly 50.000 in port yesterday. Three were British vessels of a total tonnage of more than .'{2.000 loading produce, two were British sliips discharging overseas cargoes, and the remaining two were the Finnish barque I'enang and the Netherlands passenger motor-ship Maetsu.vcker. A further large overseas vessel, the Japanese motor-ship Tokyo Maru, will arrive to-day. An official statement issued by Mr. T. H. Solomon, president of the Waterside Workers' Union, and Mr. W. J. Cuthbert, secretary, after the meeting yesterday was: "The question of a new agreement governing work on the waterfront was fully discussed by members of the union, and dissatisfaction was rampant because the employers had failed to negotiate a new agreement. The men have been without an agreement since June 30. 1938.

No Overtime to be Worked "The employers, on occasions, have made offers of a piecework system, but these covered only approximately 20 per cent of the men employed in the industry," the statement continued. "The proposals submitted by the employers were not acceptable to the national union, and when this report was conveyed back to the members of the Auckland branch to-day the men decided to take action for the purpose of securing an early hearing of their dispute.

"As a consequence the decision that no overtime would be worked was reached. This means that work will cease on the wharves each day at 5 p.m."

When asked why the Auckland branch had taken the initiative locally instead of leaving any action to the national union, an official stated that yesterday's decision was spontaneous. As far as he knew, none of the southern unions were-aware of the stand taken by Auckland.

SEVERAL SHIPS AFFECTED THE LOADING OF PRODUCE TRUCKS LEFT OVERNIGHT The opinion that a stage had at last been reached when some definite decision must be taken on the entire ' position affecting waterfront work in New Zealand was expressed by Auckland shipping interests yesterday. Agents stated that it was impossible to continue in the manner ruling in the past, and considered that war-time necessity had made tfye matter one of the greatest importance and urgency. Several pointed out that the produce ships were now under the control of the British Government, with their companies serving only as' agents. It was hoped that Britain's demands for quick transit of cargoes and a minimum wastage of time by ships at coastal ports would have some effect in altering the present general situation.

The short notice of the intention of the union not to work overtime yesterday resulted in considerable inconvenience to a number of companies. One large British motor-ship was to have been worked to midnight. When the union's decision was received, it was found impossible to complete the transfer of refrigerated produce from railway waggons before 5 p.m., and nine loaded trucks remained on the wharf overnight.

Two other British steamers which were loading were also affected. As soon as the company controlling them heard of the union's decision, the night shift of refrigerated waggons from Southdown was cancelled. This prevented about 20 trucks standing on the wharf overnight, but seven trucks were left over from the day's work on both ships.

WELLINGTON DISCUSSION NO DECISION ANNOUNCED [BY TKI.KGH Al'H I'RKSS ASSOCIATION'] WETjLINGTON, Woilllesday The monthly stop-work meeting of the Wellington Wn-terside Workers' Union this morning lasted until 11.40 a.m. instead of 10 a.m., as laid down in the award. In consequence no work was started on the waterfront until 1 p.m. No statement as to any decision arrived at at the meeting, at which there was a large attendance of members, was made available, but Mr. E. E. Canhain, president of the union, made a statement for publication. "Owing to the inability of our national officers to effect a new Dominion agreement, due to the refusal of the shipowners at various times and their obstructive tactics," said Mr. Canham, '"the members decided this morning to discuss the position at length and try to find a remedy." When this statement was referred to Mr. W. H. G. Bennett, general secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Employers' Association, he emphatically denied the allegations of the union and stated that at no time had the employers used any obstructive tactics toward the formation of a new award for the waterside industry. "The effect of the union's action in continuing this stopwork meeting for nearly two hours more than they were entitled to under the award might be to cause delay in the despatch of four overseas vessels working at the port," continued Mr. Bennett. "There was also delay caused to Lyttelton, Nelson and Picton passenger steamers and to coastal vessels in port."