WATERFRONT DEADLOCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 169, 7 October 1927, Page 1

WATERFRONT DEADLOCK

TROUBLE AT NAPIER EMPLOYERS MAY ENGAGE NON-UNIONISTS (Special to THE SUN.) NAPIER, Thursday. number of men necessary in each gang to work the coastal steamer Pakura was the cause of a dispute which arose at Port Ahuriri to-day. The watersiders wanted six men for each gang, and the employers were willing to engage only four. Endeavours to bring about an agreement failed, and the Pakura remained in port all the afternoon without a start being made with the discharge of her cargo. • The ship arrived in the bay sit 11 o’clock this morning from Wellington and was to go into the inner harbour at 2.30 p.m. to commence discharge. A call to engage the men was made at 1 p..m, four gangs being required. The men, however, insisted on six men being engaged for each gang, and a deadlock ensued. A conference of the parties concerned later in the afternoon was unable to reach an agreement. Until the men agree to return to work no more union labour is to be engaged. The question has been referred to Wellington, and it is the intention of the employers, if the men do not accept the terms of the award,, to engage non-union labour, of which in these clilys of unemployment there is plenty available. To-morrow morning the men will be given a further opportunity of return>i»s to- cfc*-cj>>