THE LABOUR DISPUTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4869, 14 June 1890, Page 3

THE LABOUR DISPUTES.

(Per Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) (Per Press Association. ) (Reeoivod 8 p.m., June 13fch.l London, Juno 12. It is reported that the Orient Steam Navigation Company, the Donald Currie Company, and the Ponin3iilar aud Oriental Steam Navigation Company are negotiating for the purchase of. Tilbury dock for a turn of 3i millions. The Orient Cnnpnny having discharged two firemen nnd replaced them with blacklegs, it reaultod m the stevedoro3anc three hundred fabourers (not dockenO going out on strike. The police m tho metropolis aro refraining from striking as they fear such a step would lead to tho introduction of legislation detrimental to tho interests of trade nnioniat3. The East India Dock Company having abolished two or three dockers' representatives at their dock, two thousand men b:ivo struck work us a protest against such action. A strike is also imminent at the Victoria dock, owing to the Company discharging 30 of their permaneut bauds. (Received 1.10 a.m., Juno 11th.) . Sydney, June 13. The Employers Union issued a statement to-night which traverses the appeal made by the wharf labourers for assistance throughout Australia m the event of extreme measures boing adopted. Tho employers state that tho rule 3 of tho labourers ara not tho3e which were drafted at the intercolonial conference but are framed by ths locil men acting on their own responsibility, and contain a number of alterations which constitute an attempt to revolutionise the condition of tho present regulations for tho employment of wharf labourers. Some of the demands are admitted to be within reason, and have been couceded to ; whilst others have msde the position held by the employers almo3t intolerable. The most important question is that of the constant men, but the proportion of tbeso to casuals is very small. The men's rules demand that constant men be allowed to join tho union bnt that they shall receive the current rate of wages and shall be subject to be called out when needed. K"o firm is to employ more than five hands who are not work on the wharf. This practically amounts to saying that they will not admit permaneut hands at all or give any members a chance of preferment from precarious to permanent employment. The men lay great stress on the fact that their just rights are infringed by the conatauts, but statistics show that the average throughout the year has been 25 casuals to ono constant. When, through slackness of work the constants are given a holiday and afterwards allowed to recoup themselves by working overtime the average earnings this way never exceed 03 or fis rjer week. The amount distributed over caanals, the statement adds, would not represent more than Is Cd to 2s per man per annnm.j@Tho labourers state that the majority of constants are paid £2 53 per week for 60 hours, but this assertion, though nominally correct, i 3 Eeriously calculated to mislead, as the men are only expected io work 56 hours, and with overtime to recoup themselves the lo3s sustained by holidays and their wages amount to £2 83 or £2 9a. The employers state that the- real cause of the trouble lies m the fact that the constants are a great deal better off than the casuals and many of the constants are now unionists. The employers have no objection to the men joining any union they please. The great principle on which the employers and .nit!n are at present at variance ia •expressed m the proposal of the employare a3 follows • — That freedom of ■contract bo allowed between employers and labour m regard to time and conditions of men on regular weekly wage?, and that} bona fide constants ODly be worked. The employers ask that constants be at call for 56 qours, but both parties now, owing to the fluctuating nature of the work, do not average more than 48 hoars. The employers decline to pay for smoke oh, and are utterly at a los 3 to conceive why the men Bhould object to sign an agreement for 12 montha. What encouragement, they ask, is there to make concessions if no guarantee will be granted that they are to havo at luast a Bhort terra of quietness. (Br Telegraph.) WELLINGTON Jras 13. The Trades and Labour Council have decided to insist on the Tramway Company accepting the same terms as the Bus Company, namely 66 hoara per week for grooms, and 72 for guards ; wage* for drivero 45s per week, guards 20s to 25a, grooms 40j to 455, the minimum only to apply to their unskilled hands. The council considers the echemo proposed by the tramway owners risionary and unßtablo, and intend if necessary to force tbe adoption of their proposals. A conference- takes place on Thursday between the Karly Closing Association and tho .employees m the mil goods trade with a view •of arranging 6 o'clock as the hour of closing ■establishments on Hatui'day evening*, NELSON, Josz 13. A branch of tho Now Zealand Postal Telegraph Officers' Society bos been formed here. DUNEDIN, June 13. The Federated Seamen's Union sent £27 10s, and the Wharf Labourers £50 to aid the striker* at Bhsj? Point. The hopes of a speedy amicable settlement m the Shag Point dispute h«,ve proved fallacious, and the unions asaociiitcd under tbo Maritime Council having negotiated lor a peacoable aettlernen 1 -, without effect, are now proceeding ti combine against tbe proprietors. .Notification hai been eont by the Beamon's Union, the wharf labourers and wharf carters that on and after Monday they decline to handle any goods belonging to Rom and Glendining, or McKerrass and Hnzlctt. Wires haro a.so been sent by those bodies to ail of their branches throughout ITew ZeaJand, nnd tbo Railway Employees Association suive al«o been notified of tbetbove decision, ar/ ) requested to aasiit. Cables will be xent to the Australiun branches, and all preparation* have been mads for a gocprol strike if pecessury.