MINERS' STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 4

MINERS' STRIKE

AGED EMPLOYEE'S DISMISSAL A SETTLEMENT EFFECTED WORK TO BE RESUMED TO-DAY .. .(Pef United Press Association) " • :. ■ AUCKLAND,' Aug. «»'. - After two days of idleness,;:4oo men employed at the Macdonald and Glen Afton mines, operated near, Huntly by the Glen Aftori Collieries, Ltd., will return to work to-morrow; As the result of the dismissal -by the management of an aged' employee, activities at the mines ceased following a stop-work ing on Monday morning, the miners disagreeing with the employers' view that the man concerned, who was aged 76, was no longer capable of carrying out his duties efficiently. The question was discussed for three hours at a meeting of the Glen Aftpn branch of the Northern Miners' Union, this morning, when members of the union executive addressed the assembled workers. It Was-, decided that work should' be resumed to-morrdw pending the carrying out of negotiations concerning the dispute. ; .':,>• v J; ; -.;"•. For the majority of the 400 men who were involved in the stoppage work will not be ~r.eswned/\until 8 o'clock.to-mdrrow:morning, and fol- ; lowing the meeting to-day the bulk; of them .returned to Hheir vhomes.,; About a dozen,; -however* will start, at midnight'on what is known as the "dog watch" of eight hours for the purpose of attending the mine pumps. It is assumed that, the miners themselves are satisfied to leave the question of the aged employee's dismissal to the executive of the union. A: committee'is in existence to deal with matters of this kind, and it .is understood that negotiations will be conducted' by ♦his means. . ' ..