DELAY TO SHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23906, 5 March 1941, Page 10

DELAY TO SHIP

CARGO WORK DISPUTE CLAIM FOR "DIRT MONEY" VESSEL AT GREYMOUTH (0.C.) GREYMOUTH, Tuesday Because of a dispute between the agents and waterside workers employed the loading of a ship was delayed for two hours at Greymouth this morning. In view of the fact that the vessel had recently carried guano, watersiders invoked the "dirty work" clause of the award and demanded and extra payment of 2d an hour for all work done in the hatches, guano dust being regarded as an unpleasant inconvenience. It is stated the agents were prepared to pay "dirt money" until the floor of the hatch was covered with timber to keep down the dust, or, alternatively, to allow the watersiders to sweep out the hatch to their own satisfaction. Both these offers were declined by the men, who demanded that "dirt money" should be paid for the duration of work in the hatches, stating that they would not sweep out the hatch, as this work had been commenced by the crew. The watersiders also declined to work pending the hearing of their claim by the disputes committee and no work was done on the vessel between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. In the meantime the disputes committee met and it was later announced that the agents of the vessel had agreed to pay the extra money for the complete loading in the hatches of the vessel rather than tie it up for an indefinite period. Work was then commenced. The extra cost of loading the ship will be between £36 and £4O. A .total of 27 men (two gangs) was affected this morning, but as loading proceeds this number will be doubled, and all will receive the extra 2d an hour.