WATERSIDE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18172, 17 February 1921, Page 5

WATERSIDE

POSITION AT LYTTELTON. UNION’S POLICY UNSOLVABLE. (Fbom Ode Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 16. Apparently the waterside workers at Lyttelton have adopted a new policy calculated to irritate the employers. They are discriminating' among vessels on which they shall work overtime. On Monday the water aiders worked overtime on the vessels at Lyttelton. Yesterday afternoon work on most vessels ceased at 5 o’clock, overtime being worked on only five boats out of 16. Shipping agents are so perplexed by the men's latest tactics that they are now content to allow the /problem of what the union’s policy is to remain unsolved, and patiently await still- further developments. While some shipping companies for a time had reason to imagine that had been selected for preferential treatment in the quick despatch of vessels, the fallacy of the idea is exploded by the fact that wlien yesterday the discharging or loading of certain of their vessels had been almost corny pleted the men did not work the few hours* overtime which would have enabled the'vessels' to depart from Lyttelton last evening or at daybreak this morning. A little overtime on the Somerset would have allowed that vessel to get away last evening, but the watersiders engaged ceased work at 5' p.m., and two trucks of frozen meat and two trucks of wool for the vessel were left on the wharf. i The Pukaki, whichhad only about 60 tons of coal left to discharge when 5 p.m. came, was also left. It would sCem to be part of the men’s policy to work a vessel until her loading or unloading is-nearing completion, and then if 5 p.m. arrives before the work is finished to allow only some of the vessels to be worked overtime. The fact that the man are not disposed to give timely 'notice, as to whether or not they will work overtime /places both shipping agents and the Railway Department in an awkward position. For instance, in the case of a vessel which is loading perishable Cargo, a refusal to work overtime' on her meanatthat the cargo has to remain in the railway vans on the wharves until next day, at the risk of deterioration. The present tactics do not involve any “go-slow,” for while they are at work the watersiders are working 'xcellently. The movement is simply an application of “job (control’’ to overtime. POSITION AT LYTTELTON. ) > OVERTIME WORKED ON ALL VESSELS. < (Pxs United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 16. The watersiders worked ■ overtime at Lyttelton to-night on all vessels. WORK IN AUCKLAND. OLD ORDER OF THINGS REVERTED TO. EVERY SHIP WORKED. (Pee United Pbbis AKsmAxiOH.) AUCKLAND, February 16. Overtime on every ship in port was worked to-night The departure of vessels will now be expedited, as the watersiders have apparently reverted to the old order of things. “GO-SLOW” AT NEW PLYMOUTH iPee U nited Press Association,! NEW PLYMOUTH, February 16. The majority of the watersiders hero' - , refused to-day, for the first time, to work overtime after 5 o’clock. While Wellington, Auckland, and other watersiders were adopting these tactics the local men worked overtime, but now the brighter outlook at the main ports has been clouded by the New Plymouth men “going slow.” The men are not unanimous in the action taken, but no overtime was worked.