WATERFRONT WORK DISPUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1934, Page 6

WATERFRONT WORK DISPUTE

WELLINGTON SHIPPING HOLD-UP. UNION SECRETARY’S STATEMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Jan. 23. The Watersiders’ Union secretary has issued a statement saying that the national working agreement of November, 1932, made provision for a limited number of men to be ordered down by shipping companies to remove hatches and prepare gear for an 8 o’clock start. “This was not satisfactory to Wellington men,” he continues, “as a large number lived in outlying districts and trams did not bring them ,in to the town in time to start at 7 o’clock. Consequently work did not start before 8 o’clock, so that the harbour board gangs did not start till 8.30 or 8.45. The disputes committee subsequently arrived at an agreement whereby the men could start stripping and preparing gear at 7.30, thus enabling the harbour board gangs to start at 8 o’clock. This agreement was fully explained to • the stop-work meeting on Saturday morning by Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of the Watersiders’ Federation, following which a secret ballot was taken and the decision of the disputes committee was adopted. It is understood that minor points raised during the dispute were all satisfactorily settled.