WORK AND WAGES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10716, 15 March 1911, Page 4

WORK AND WAGES.

[By Electric Telegraph—CorrniGHt.] (Per Pit ess Association.; Received March 11, at 3.5 p.m. Sydney, March 14 A strike of 50 casual hands employed as capstan men at the Railway Department's wheat-loading sidings on Darling Island has caused a complete stoppage of work. Altogether over 800 employees are affected. The strikers demanded an increase of pay, which the department gratit'-cl for the day workers concerned, but refused tli" i'uii increase asked for night work. Several vessels are stuck up. Received March 14, at 0.55 p.m. .Sydney. March 14. The whari'-workers' sirike was declared oil' late this afternoon, the men's del d.s being conceded. The wharf laborers then declined to work for the remainder of the broken day, and ! operations were suspended till, the morning. The demands granted were an increase from 7s fjd to 8s a day, eight hours, an increase from Is to Is 6d per hour tor overtime. The men have i been restless for an increase since a fortnight ago. One of their number was killed, and they are using as an argument the. danger of working the electric capstans, which replace the shunting engines. All the strikers are not unionists. The Broken Hill engine-drivers and firemen, at a meeting, decided, by a show ot bands, to adopt drastic measures unless one of the drivers who was dismissed is reinstated. An amendment for a secret ballot was-afterwards carried, and this was taken. This resulted in the reversal of-the. open vote. ' Melbourne, March 14. The implement strikers are dissatisfied with the manner in which the unions arc responding to the appeal for financial assistance. It is stated that many of the unions have not contributed.