LABOUR MATTERS

Southland Times, Issue 17347, 19 May 1913, Page 6

LABOUR MATTERS

MINERS YIELD. JOINING THE UNION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright!. LONDON. May 16. The non-unionists' resistance to the South Wales Miners' Federation campaign has collapsed; Fifty thousand non-unionists have joined the Federation within a fortnight, mainly due to the relaxation of the entrance fee rules. The strikers held well-organised demonstrations. TROUBLE IN BRITISH SHIPYARDS. A STRIKE EXPECTED. LONDON, May 17. Received ISth, 5.5 p.m. The Federated Shipyards Workers’ Union circularised its members Inviting them to decide whether they would accept the employers’ proposals to adjourn the request for increased wages for three months, or notify them of a strike unless their demands were conceded. The unions participating in the ballot ■•present 110,000 skilled workers, but if —as several large employers fear it leads to a strike. 500.000 will be affected. There have been three successive advances of 5 per cent, since 1910. EXPULSION OF A LODGE. SYDNEY. May 17. The Northern Miners’ Delegate Board endorsed the expulsion of Minmi Lodge from the Employees' Federation. The Minmi men will now be treated as •08-unionists. TIMARU WHARF TROUBLE. (•noiißiooscv ssajj poijiia Jad) TIMARU, May 17. besides tha home ship Kia Ora, which was worked by free labour, two small Btcamers are in port to-day, the John and Himitangi. That the Unionists have not given in is proved by an incident on the Himitang-i. -The agent engaged some free labour, and more being needed, the captain engaged some Unionists. The latter refused to work with the free Labourers, and the.captain said that he would discharge the free men if more Unionists were available. Other* Union, lats were brought, and the free labourers tvere discharged. The captain explained his action by a desire to avoid trouble at other ports. The new seaside union, ■which has now over fifty members, met to •night to consider rules. WATERS IDERS AND THE JOHN. • AN EXPLANATION ASKED FOR. In connection with the since-rescinded resolve of the Dunedin waterside workers not to work the steamer John, Mr Keith Ramsay, local agent for the vessel, has written to, the union asking for an explanation, says the Star. In the course of his letter he points out thtß the union are supposed to he working under, an agreement, saying: “The essence of this agreement is that the work of the employers ’ shall always proceed in the customary manner, and shall not on any account whatsoever be impeded. • It is agreed that if any dispute or difference shall arise between the parties bound by this agreement, cr aav of them, whether as to its construction or meaning, or as to any other matter whatever arising out of or connected therewith, every such dispute or difference. as the same shall arise, shall be referred to a committee, to be composed Of three representatives of the union at the port concerned, and three representatives of the employers, for their decision. The decision of the majority of the com. nsittee shall he binding, and If no decision is arrived at tire committee shall submit the point in dispute to some independent person to be chosen by them, and if his decision is not acceptable to both parties, then the matter, shall be referred for further negotiation to the New Zealand Federation of Labour and the employer or employers conceVned.” The letter goes on to state that the writer is quite convinced that “your members who depend on the mosquito fleet for their living, and who are unfortunately in the minority, were overruled by the majority, who make big money working only on the Union and Huddart, Parker Companies’ vessels." The letter ilso says: “Perhaps, unknown to me. you .nave already torn up the agreement. If this is so, kindly advise me.”