LABOUR UNREST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 22

LABOUR UNREST.

DISSATISFACTION AT GREEN ISLAND.

IMPROVED CONDITIONS SOUGHT. The desire for improved conditions, trucking being one of them, impelled the miners at Green Island to ignore their ordinary duties on Saturday, and give consideration to matters affecting their interests. For that purpose a meeting was held in the morning, and. with the object of seeking to have their grievances remedied delegates were appointed to wait on the employers. Though there is, it is understood, no intention on the part of the men to prolong their idleness, a meeting will he held early this morning, when it is hoped that the reply to the representations of the delegates will be received

There was no change on Monday in the position at the Green Island coal mines in respect to the attitude which has been taken up by the men with a view to obtaining improved conditions.

As a result of a stop work meeting .held on Saturday, delegates were appointed by the union to wait on the employers, but this meeting did not take place, presumably because the directors of the companies concerned do not feel disposed to make any offer, which, in view of the men's demands, holds out any hope of an immediate settlement of the trouble.

What occurred on Monday- was that another stop-work meeting was held in the morning and that .subsequently no work was done during the day. It is probable that the policy which the men will adopt will be to hold stop-work meetings from day to day until the trouble is adjusted. So far as-the employers are concerned the position is not without its serious side. We understand that the stocks in hand are very low, and that for some time past, the merchants have been working from band to mouth.

One of the principle changes desired by the men is apparently that the companies should do the trucking at the mines. Another is that the men should fill the boxea at the face as the coal falls instead of sorting it into the three classes of big, small, and dross. KOSLYN MILLS DISPUTE. Negotiations were in progress on Monday rbetween the employers and the wcike;s in the dispute at the Hoslyn Mills, but no finality was reached. The trouble has arisen through an appointment on the-staff at the mills. The men allege that a sub-foreman was appointed who has not been working in a woollen mill for . a number of years, and that another man, who is an old hand at the mills, has been disrated in consequence. The management point.out that the latter has received no reduction of pay in connection with the matter. As a result of the dissatisfaction caused, 12 men and two boys left their employment as a protest, and on Monday another mari left, making a total of 15. The last man to leave was a returned soldier, who started work only last week, after tho trouble commenced, and who, it is said, decided to leave off when he heard of the grievance. It is stated that another returned soldier refused to accept a position with the mill for the same reason. The staff of the spinning department, which is the one affected, has been reduced to four, and as the mill depends on this department for its supply of yarn, a continuance of the trouble would have a serious general effect. Of the men who have stopped work, six are skilled and seven unskilled hands. A largely attended mass meeting of the mill hands was held in the Trades Hall on Saturday night last, and, with one dissentient, voted in favour of supporting the hands who are out. The position was placed.before -the meeting, which unanimously decided to open up negotiations for a settlement, and to leave the conduct of such negotiations in the hands of the Hon. _J. T. Paul, who is now negotiating with, the employers. The men require the reinstatement of the employee who, they say, has been unfairly dealt' with. The employers have not, as yet, indicated any intention of meeting them. Underlying the present subject of dispute, it is understood that, there is discontent among the workers at the mill over other and more general matters. These ai - e not being brought into the present negotiations at all. However, on Wednesday next the representatives of the employers and workers ara meeting in conference in Christchurch, to consider a dominion award for woollen mill employees.