EMPLOYERS FIRM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8559, 23 October 1913, Page 9

EMPLOYERS FIRM

REGARD THE AGREEMENT AS TERMINATED. | MEN CHARGED WITH FLAGRANT ! BREACH. A meeting of all employers of waterside workers was held during the afternoon in the Union Company's buildings, Mr W. A. Kennedy, local manager 4 of the Union Company, presiding. [The meeting, which lasted from 3.30 p.m. to 5 p.m., was a thoroughly representative one. The object was to consider the position arising from the men declining to work as shown in the motion received from. the waterside workers' meeting, which stated that unless tiro men on theWahine, Rimutaka, Wairuna and Northern wore reinstated the union workers would not start work to-day. The meeting was not open to the i press, but at its conclusion Mr Kennedy told a "Times" representative that the following letter, including a resolution which was carried unaniI mously. was to be forwarded to the general secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union:— "At a thoroughly representative meeting of employers held this arternoon, the following resolution was passed:— That this meeting of employers who were parties to the agreement witli the waterside workers dated January 17tb, 1912, regard the refusal of the members of the union to commence work at the usual hour this morning as a flagrant breach of clause 28 of the contract existing between the employers and the union, and that the meeting inform the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union to that effect, and also that they regard tho agreement as terminated. Yours faithfully, (Signed) W. A. KENNEDY (Chairman)." Tliis resolution was received by tin* men's oxeeutive shortly afterwards, and a reporter was then informed that the motion carried bv the men that afternoon would be given effect to. "NOT A STRIKE." The secretary (Mr G. Farland) later stated thit a meeting of the union

would be held this morning to further discuss the position of affairs. Me added: "Thus is not a strike: it is a Jock-out. The companies say the agreement is terminated." NO CLAIM. The stevedores have made a pomi of the fact that the employers ol the shipwrights declined to receive any overtures on the part of the waterside workers concerning the shipwrights' dispute. Mr Kennedy pointed out to a "Times" representative that clause 28 of the "Agreements with the Waterside Workers' Union' clearly showed that the waterside workers had no claim in the matter, as the shipwrights did not come within the scope of the agreement. The clause stated: —"The essence of this agreement being that the work of the employers shah always proceed in the customary manner, and shall not on any account whatsoever bo impeded, it is agreed that if any dispute or difference shall arise between the parti.s bound by this agreement, or any of them, whether as to its construction, or meaning, or as to any other matter whatever arising out of it, or connected therewith, every such dispute or difference, as the same shall arise, shall be referred to a committee," etc. INVITATION TO FREE LABOUR. As tho shipowners and other employ ers of waterside "workers believe that outside labour is available, they are advertising the following notice: "Owing to the agreement between the "Waterside ."Workers' "Union and tho various shipping oompanieß having been terminated, applications are invited from those desirous of obtaining employment load.ng and unloading steamers on the Wellington wharves. Applications should be made to the companies concerned." Applicants are expeotea fd-apply at the various shipping offices this morning. So far as the shipwrights were concerned, there were no fresh developments yesterday. The hulk Jubilee, having been temporarily fixed up, and the tug N atone, Having bad her stem replaced, both vessels were relaunched from the patent, slip during the day.