STRIKE ECHO

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8733, 15 May 1914, Page 5

STRIKE ECHO

AM AUCKLAND CONTRACT VERSATILE WORKMAN WHO WAS “BLACKBALLED.” BUILDING WORK HELD UP. Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 14. An extraordinary strike seems likely to hang up proceeding-s on tho now Hoys’ Grammar School which is being built by Mr Wk E. Hutchinson at Mount Eden. Tho building is in brick, is to cost £31,40U, and will be one of tho biggest brick' constructions undertaken in Auckland fur some time, and the bricklayers engaged on tho job were faced with continuous employment for tho nest twelve months.

Tho present trouble is the outcome of the big strike 1913. One of tho men, \wlio was employed as a bricklayer on that occasion, wont out on strike with his brother bricklayers.

lie happened to he not only a bricklayer, but a first-class plasterer. The plasterers did not join in the strike. ...

Tiiis man had a wife and family, and he decided to take work which offered as a plasterer.' A strike picket interviewed him, and the man declared at the time that he had no idea of resuming, work as a bricklayer, hut that, as a plasterer, he ha-d not been asked by the Plasterers’ Union to go on strike. Tho Bricklayers’ TJnionj however, decided to “blackball” tho man, and tho next move camo early this week when t-hero were twelve bricklayers at work on the job at Mount Eden. The man in question was put on, and worked for two days. Then a demand was niaflo that ho should he treated as “black” and ho dismissed. _ Air Hutchinson declined to obey this mandate, and the twelve, men at work accordingly laid down their tools. Four men have since recommenced, and seventeen men at least are needed.

“Our position is an unfortunate one,” said a member of the firm. “We are given to understand that the whole job has now been '"blackballed.’ _We have just completed the foundations, and over a million bricks will have to bo laid. There is twelve months’ work ahead for twenty men. It is a £31,000 job, and has to he finished in contract time. The Builders’ Association has taken our case up, and the Labour Department is also moving in the matter.”