WORKSHOPS IDLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19777, 3 November 1938, Page 7

WORKSHOPS IDLE

RAILWAY DISPUTE JOBS FOR LABOURERS BOILERMAKERS OBJECT PROMOTION NECESSARY WAGE RATES AT ISSUE (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. As a result of labourers being employed on work which, it was contended, should be undertaken by boilermakers, over 1600 employees at the Otahuhu railway workshops ceased work yesterday. This action was determined at a mass meeting during the lunch hour and while the men remained at the works throughout the afternoon only apprentices continued at their ordinary employment.

The trouble was a development of the acute shortage of skilled boilermaker* which has been experienced at' the workshops for a considerable time. Fully a year ago differences arose between the boilermakers and the department in regard to the manning of certain jobs. At that time there was a stoppage of work, the men resenting the proposal of the department to employ labourers on machines and other work, which boilermakers claimed should be performed by tradesmen only. The differences were adjusted at that time, but it is understood the shortage of tradesmen persisted.

Morning Negotiations

It was found necessary by the management yesterday morning to assign two labourers to work in the boilermakers' shop and at 8.30 o’clock the boilermakers held a meeting to consider the position. Representations were made to the management, the negotiations continuing until the lunch hour when no satisfactory settlement had heen reached.

At this stage the boilermakers decided to acquaint the whole staff of over 1600 employees with the position. A largely-attended mass meeting was held and it was resolved to cease work while certain discussions proceeded with the department. A committee representative of all shops was appointed to handle matters in the dispute. With the approval of the men a skeleton staff remained on duty to continue essential services. Several hundred apprentices were also not affected, while members of the clerical staff, who are members of the Railway Officers’ Institute, continued their work. Shunters at the workshops were not affected. Night Shift Return Home

With the arrival of the night shift of about 70 men at 4 p.m., the position was explained to them and they returned to their homes shortly after. Throughout the afternoon a strict measure of control was maintained at the entrance to the works, although idle men were not permitted to leave the yards without a, special permit from the management until shortly before 4 p.m., which is the usual hour for ceasing work. Similarly no one was allowed to enter the works except by authority. Even a telegraph boy was closely questioned.

However, there was a general exodus of the staff at 4 o’clock, the workers’ trains for the northern and southern suburbs leaving according to schedule. Shortly after the works were practically deserted. While no statement was issued either by the men or the management, it is understood that the issues of the dispute involve the right of the department to assign labourers to jobs at rates of wages below the standard payment to . tradesmen in that particular shop. The boilermakers are understood to have no objections to the promotion of labourers to this class of work, so long as skilled men are not available. Below Standard Bates The men contend that the employment of non-tradesmen at rates below the standard is tantamount to an infringement of craft principles. The unions covering the men involved in the dispute are the Boilermakers’ Union, the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. The committee appointed yesterday includes representatives of each organisation and in addition to local negotiations, union representatives in Wellington discussed the matters in dispute with executive officers of the department.

It was intended to hold a further mass meeting to-day, when the position would be discussed in the light of overnight developments. In a statement made in Wellington in reply to inquiries last evening, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said there would be no discussions until the men had resumed work unconditionally. Subsequently the Government would determine its course of action.