UNWISE PROCEDURE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8558, 22 October 1913, Page 6

UNWISE PROCEDURE

We feel confident that the members of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union will act both wrongly and foolishly if they adhere to the proposal to hold a meeting this morning just at the time when their services are required for employment. There is neither occasion nor justification for adopting such a course. The fact that the shipwrights’ branch of the union has struck for higher pay is, we believe, in itself a breach of the agreement entered into solemnly and deliberately by the nnion on tbo one side and the employers on the other. Whatever may bo the merits or demerits of the dispute concerning the shipwrights, however, there is a provision in the agreement under which waterside labour is employed that is expressly designed to prevent the system of holding “stop work” meetings —a system which, if we may be allowed to say so in all seriousness and sincerity, has in the past certainly not appreciated the reputation of those taking part. There is no apparent reason for selecting the working honrs for the discussion of grievances, Catside of a desire to be arbitrary and autocratic; and we may remind the men belonging to the union that they themselves are unsparing in condemning—in justly condemning—the exercise of arbitrary and autocratic methods on the part of employers. Those men who refuse to take up work at eight o’clock this morning may think they are bravely fighting the cause of their mates in the shipwrights’ division of their union, but they will nevertheless be dishonestly breaking a compact which they should really be most anxious to see honoured in the letter and the spirit by both parties subscribing to it. The waterside workers could just as well have held their meeting at five o’clock last evening, or they could meet before eight this morning, or in the dinner hour. By attempting to obstruct the work of the port and the business of tho city the men can only s'acoeed in alienating the goodwill of the public, which will always eventually bo extended to a worthy cause. Persistence in the “stop work” proposal will probably drive the Harbour Board, reluctantly enough, to employ whatever labour may be available, and in the end we are certain the unionists will bitterly regret their action. It is plainly stipulated in the agreement governing the terms of employment that in tho event of a dispute work shall go on in the cuetomary manner, and shall not on any account whatever bo impeded or interrupted, But the matter an dispute shall he referred to tho local committee, known as the Disputes Committee, for adjustment, and failing a satisfactory decision of the committee, then to an independent person to be chosen by the committee. The union or its representatives have subscribed to this agreement, and it can only be broken at very painful sacrifice. Tho regrettable feature of tho proceedings is that the men who are apparently about to take a mistaken course this morning can ill afford to suffer tho inevitable circumstances. We sincerely wish that they were heifer guided.