SEAMEN’S STRIKE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 662, 31 October 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

SEAMEN’S STRIKE IN AUCKLAND.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, October 23. The seamen and firemen of tbe steamers lona and Rowena, belonging to the Northern Steamship Company, struck this evening. They desire that the company shall recognise the Federated Seamen’s Union rules re wages, overtime, &c. The crews of all the other steamers of the company threaten to strike as they arrive in Auckland. A test case has been' tried against Engineer Macgregor for desertion, but really to try tbe validity of the company’s articles. Judgment was deferred. Auckland, October 24. The strike that has originated amongst the crews of the steamers Rowena and lona has extended to all the other coastal steamers in port, the following vessels being laid up in consequence :—S.S. Waitaki, s.s. Annie Milbank, s.s. Macgregor, p.s. Enterprise, and s.s. Rowena. The two latter trade to the Thames, with which communication will be cut off during the strike. It is estimated that seventy men are out. Their grievance is that the owners refuse to pay overtime. Later. The strike of firemen and seamen of the steamers is causing great annoyance. It has extended to other local companies. Auckland, October 25.

Between fifty and sixty men are now on strike, and it is by no means an easy matter to replace them at a few hours’ notice. The seamen who have struck have been receiving £6 per month, and they now demand an additional £1 per month, besides overtime at the rate of Is 6d per hour from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Is per hour from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. ; also overtime to be paid for all classes of wolk in any port, bay, or roadstead where cargo is worked, except the work is necessary for the safety of the ship ; washing decks and decorating ship on Sundays and public holidays prior to 8 a.m. to be exempt from overtime. The firemen have been paid at the rate of £lO per month, which is £1 in advance of the rate required by the union rules. They are, however, acting in conjunction with the seamen, aud claim that the latter should be -allowed £7 per month. So far the companies affected by the strike have stood firm in their determination to act independently in the matter, so it is at present difficult to say how the strike will be settled.

Later. The firemen and sailers are still on strike. Eighty-one have left the coastal steamers, and eighty others who are out of employment, and belong to the Federated Seamen’s Union, refuse to accept the terms of the owners. The Kamo Coal Company, who are the owners of the Waitaki, have alone acceded to the demands of the men. These have returned to the vessel. Several vessels left for coastal ports yesterday short-handed. The s.s. lona started for Mercury Bay under canvas, manned by two captains, two mates, and a chief engineer. The seamen hold a -meeting tonight to discuss the situation. It is probable they will make special arrangements re overtime with the owners-of river steamers.— The Northern Steamship Company have caused the arrest.of. five of the striking seamen of the steamer Wellington, whose articles have not expired. Several of the Glenelg’s men will also be arrested for refusing duty. The Seamen’s Union intend procuring their release on bail. The Star states that the owners of the Thomas Russell have acceded to the demands of the men. Sandwich men are parading the wharves with placards, calling on seamen not to ship, except in accordance with Union rules. October 26. A number of the seamen of the steamers Wellington and Glenelg have been arrested for being absent without leave and disobeying lawful commands ; also, eight seamen and firemen at Manukau. The men made no resistance. Seventeen were bailed out by Mr Owen Humphreys, landlord of the British Hotel. The Resident Magistrate has upheld the article of the steamer Macgregor taken as a test case, and, if the engineer does not return to his duty, he will get ten days’ imprisonment. At a meeting of the Seamen’s Union last evening at the Sailors’ Rest, it was decided to exempt the steamers Rotomahana, Enterprise, and Coromandel, as plying on river certificates, from the overtime clause and the articles, and to provide for 24 hours’ notice on either side. The steamers Thomas Russell and Lalla Rookh have agreed to the Union’s terms. The former’s crew has been paid off, but Bign articles again on Monday. The strike now practically only .affects the Northern Steamship Company, the other steamers yielding. Hannigan, the president of the Auckland branch of the Union, retained Messrs Cooper and Devore and Cotter as counsel for defence of the arrested.seamen, all of whom were bailed by Mr Owen Humphreys and Mr Farnell, secretary of the Trade and Labor Council. Auckland, October 27. Seven men on the s.s. Thomas Russell, who refused duty on Saturday on the ground that the captain did not keep bis word with them, have been arrested for refusing to work. Captain Farquhar, of the Thames trader Rotomahana, during the strike manned his vessel with his five sons, aged from 13 to 19. Later. The charges against the seamen on strike have been remanded until Wednesday, bail being allowed. Auckland, October 28. At a meeting of the Seaman’s Union yesternight, a letter was read from the Dunedin branch in which the men were urged to uphold their rights, but in doing so to act with caution and forbearance," and that any necessary funds would be forthcoming from that branch. A cablegram was also read from Sydney, in which the Auckland branch were urged not to concede one point, but to only work under the rules of the Union. The Chairman stated that the Seamen’s Federal Union now numbered 14,000 members, and if necessary £BOO per month would be foithceming to aid the strike in Auckland. The Society of Marine Engineers has unanimously resolved that no further action to raise the pay of the Northern Steamship Company’s engineers should be taken at present, owing to pending question of validity of present articles, but it was passed enthusiastically that no member, on the expiration of the existing agreement, which was alleged to be one-sided, should again sign in that company unless the articles entered into should contain a clause enabling the captain to discharge or the engineer to leave the vessel at twenty-four hours notice in the same way as provided for in the articles of all other companies in Australasia. Later. The seamen’s strike terminated to-day by Mr Macgregor, managing director for the Northern Steamship Company agreeing to the terms imposed by the Federated Union. At a late hour this afternoon a large number of seamen assembled at the Customs shipping office for the purpose of signing the new articles to serve on the Northern Company’s steamers, so for the present at least the matter appears to have been settled. It is not yet known whether the charges now pending against a number of seamen for refusing duty will be withdrawn, but it is probable this will be the course pursued.