COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27386, 11 May 1950, Page 7

COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP

London Docks Management And Men PARTIES FAR APART NZPA Special Correspondent Rec. 7 p.m. LONDON, May 10. A survey of the complex relationship of men and management in the London docks published by the British Institute of Management says the two parties are far apart, and that “forcing the other side into making concessions or eating its own words becomes something of a game, often played largely for its own sake rather than for material results.” Referring to “ the prevailing atmosphere of suspicion and distrust,” which “ renders almost any action liable to misconstruction,” it says that the two sides in the industry have drifted far apart so that real contact between them is deficient and that this is probably the primary difficulty in the way of understanding. The survey is not a report, and the institute reaches no findings. Each side, it says, attempts to drive matters just as far as it expects the other side to be prepared to go without breaking. One example of bargaining is quoted: Successive groups of workers engaged on a particularly dirty cargo with one firm demanded facilities for shower baths. These were installed, and then remained unused. Many disputes and strikes, it Is stated, resulted from driving bargains too close. “ Difficult problems of facesaving almost invariably emerged, making settlement more difficult, and finally more painful. So employers and workers draw yet further apart.' The dock labour scheme, it is stated, interfered with many of the customs and relationships in the docks. The employers frequently attempted -to reduce • concessions which they had had to make. Many workers had lost confidence in their leaders and workers. Leaders had emerged who performed the traditional function of fighting the employer and. if need be, trade union officials and the Government as well.