WORK REFUSED

Southland Times, Issue 21716, 31 May 1932, Page 6

WORK REFUSED

AUCKLAND SEAMEN REDUCED RATES OF PAY NON-UNION CREW ENGAGED (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 30. Because their wages would be 5 per cent, less than the current rates, members of the Seamen’s Union refused to offer to-day for service on the Admiralty oil tanker Nucula which is being recommissioned and is scheduled to sail for San Pedro on Thursday. In consequence, the vessel will be manned by a non-union crew which will be signed on the articles to-morrow. Information that a crew was required for the Nucula was given to the Auckland officials of the Seamen’s Union on Saturday. It was stated that the men would be paid at the rate of 5 per cent, below the wages provided in the existing seamen’s agreement and if members of the union objected, a crew of non-union seamen would be engaged. Arrangements were made for the crew to sign on the Nucula at Devonport at ten o’clock to-day, but shortly before that time the secretary of the union informed Commander E. Lyon Berthon, who is in charge of the recommissioning of the Nucula, that the terms offered were not acceptable and members of the union would not offer for employment on the vessel. Commander Berthon then arranged for a non-union crew. The 5 per cent, reduction applies only to those whose wages total £225 or less a year. Those receiving above that amount will have a 10 per cent, cut. Commander Berthon, in commenting on the position, said the Nucula was classed as a Government vessel and the cuts being made in the wages of the crew were in keeping with the reductions in the salaries and wages in all Government departments. He said the present cut was the first the men had received because they were working under an agreement which was not governed by the Arbitration Court and did not expire until July 31. The officers, engineers, cooks and stewards on the Nucula, however, had already had their wages reduced twice. Owing to the large number of unemployed seamen and firemen, there were numerous applications for the positions and Commander Berthon stated that sufficient men were available to man a fleet of vessels like the Nucula. A number of the applicants were certificated engineers who were willing to take firemen’s positions.