OTAHUHU STRIKE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19777, 3 November 1938, Page 8

OTAHUHU STRIKE

RAILWAY WORKSHOPS FEARS OF TRADESMEN i USE OF SEMI-SKILLED SETTLEMENT EFFORTS (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. On the official side there is no further development in the Olahuhu railway workshops strike, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, maintaining the attitude that negotiations cannot proceed until work is resumed.

What has caused the Otahulm men to take precipitate action appears to be the fear that the skilled tradesmen’s ranks will be permanently diluted. by introducing semi-skilled men at lower rates of pay. There is an acute shortage of skilled artisans and the system _ has developed which enables the Railway Department to put semi-skilled men on skilled work at the minimum rate of tradesmen's pay with a safeguard that they must, within two months, prove their competence in the higher capacity, both in respect to the quantity and quality of their skilled work. The decision is in the hands of the workshop managers. When the shortage is overtaken there is an understanding that these temporary tradesmen will revert to their original positions such as machinists and holders-up for boilermakers. Danger of Permanence

The dispute is apparently due to the feeling that the system of temporarily reinforcing the skilled tradesmen's ranks is being overdone, and is in danger of becoming a permanent institution. It is pointed out on behalf of the skilled men that apprentices to their trades do not, as in the case of temporary workers promoted by the department, get tradesmen’s rates until they serve a further two years’ probationary period. An unofficial estimate of the number of semi-skilled men temporarily promoted to tradesmen is that they do not exceed 50 in the whole of the railway service. Hope lor Settlement

The general secretary of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, when asked what action the organisation was taking regarding the Otahuhu strike, replied: “The matter is well in hand. We are dealing with the Government, and are optimistic there is going to be a satisfactory settlement with the least possible delay.” A message from Auckland says that negotiations are proceeding between the management and the men to-day with a view to the settlement of the dispute, according to a statement made to the press by the manager of the Government workshops, Mr. IT. Graham.

MEN TO STAY OUT INSISTENCE ON DEMANDS MINISTER DISREGARDED . (Por Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A meeting of 1600 employees of the Otahuliu workshops this morning decided, with three dissentients, to remain on strike until their demands were met.

The statement by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, that there would be .no discussion until the men resumed work unconditionally, was considered and disregarded. Telegrams were read from Mutt, Christchurch and Dunedin stating that the railway workshops men would support any decision reached by the .Auckland workers.

The men for the most part to day were sitting about at the works, in town or at home, waiting until they are paid. Owing to the smaller clerical staff, the wages will be paid later than usual. WORK AT HUTT SHOPS SYMPATHY MOVE UNLIKELY (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Work is proceeding as usual in the Hutt workshops and it is thought unlikely there will be any action in sympathy with Otahuhu strikers.