REPRISALS BEGUN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27221, 26 October 1949, Page 6

REPRISALS BEGUN

WHARF “ SPELLING ” DISPUTE

ENGAGEMENT OF NIGHT REPLACEMENTS PA AUCKLAND. Oct. 25. Without warning, the Auckland waterside workers to-day began reprisals against the week-old campaign of the shipping companies against “spelling” on the wharves. Citing the provisions of the Waterfront Industry’s Commission’s order for the engagement of labour at Auckland, union officials this morning informed the shipping companies that replacement labour for night overtime must be nominated between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The companies decided to continue the customary practice of the port and engage replacements as usual in the late afternoon, and as a result every ship needing replacements was idle to-night and only 8 of the 23 vessels were worked.

“It is impossible for night overtime labour to be engaged by 10 a.m..” said Mr E. C. Buscke, manager of the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association. “ The order provides that the employers have to 4 p.m. to notify the intention of working night overtime and the unionists have up to that hour to advise whether or not they will accept it.”

The national president of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr H. Barnes, said the employers had decided to observe rigidly the terms of the order by taking a stand against "spelling.” In the past there had been many instances of give and take in the working of the long 11-hour day, but, in view of the employers’ stand, the union was entitled to observance of the order by the employers.