LABOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13638, 4 July 1908, Page 5

LABOUR

THE BAKERS' STRIKE. Per Press' Association. ... WELLINGTON, July 3. \ To-day the master bakers say that their position is stronger than it ,was yesterday and that a few days should. see the end of the /rouble so far as they are concerned. '. '■ The secretary , states that the bakers have more than enough third hands avail* able; they merely need a few second hands and a foreman. Two members, of the association have temporarily' " pooled" their .business; and are working in ' ona bake-house, and' are keeping all their.; qustomers. supplied. Delegates at last night's niepiing of. tli&i Trades and Labour Council were unanimous in supporting a resolution, to ■ the bakers on strike of. the sygipatTiy ■and, assistance of isstated, that several of "thk speakers referred "in appreciative terms: the ' lbyalty :of 'ilhe. members of the union now'.'oh strike. .They stated that many of the men ' had - refused private offers by employers of wages higher than the union was demanding and haid insisted on the demands of thei union•'be? ing agreeid to by the whole of the employers before a single mejnber of the union Mould go back to work.' Tljei old spirit of unionism was noticeable at the Trades Council's meeting," states "one dele-, gat".". • - . ' The delegates; , expressed ' their detestation of any r worker handling' goods manufactured by' blackleg labour and' they spoke of their perspnal to assist the bakers• even if it' went to the extent of urging the, wharf labourers,. seamen, drivers and otlier unionists/ handling flour to cease work. ' Ths' bakers- were putting, up a good fight and it behoved every union to see that they' wefe not beaten, because- of the fact that 'wme their own members were supporting the masters against the men."' The -general strike however has not got beyond the suggestion stage and does not seem likely to go furher. THE WATERSIDE WORKERS.: WELLINGTON, July 3. ■Mr Farland- (Wellington) moved at the waterside workers' conference: —"That the conference institute full enquiry into the individual .condition.4 of .the'mfei} with the object of providing a scheme for a better distribution of the work." . ' • Mr Farland said that there were inen in Wellington who had been, working , for some time for £4 or £5 a week, and then found their wages, reduced' by . out-" side competition to a few shillings a, week. He cited the cases of men • who ad been ' five months oil the wharf, and had/earned an average of 25s a , week ; ; others ' SC«, 355, £1 5s 6d, _£2, and 50s. . Tlve remit was adopted. .'■ ; ' v ' Mr Farland moved .-—" That employers of wharf labour ; be. compelled to' show just cause and ieas'on for discriminating' . against, any man who has been employed ' for a period of time in his individual'department, the secretary of tlie Union to act aa ladjudicator in all cases, and ' that • the hours of engagement! he such that the, men can leave the waiting'Tooms periodically." .

Mr McLaren suggested that . discriminating would only affect a few men, and his submitted to 'the -conference that tne executive take the matter in hapd, - toge-. : ther with their- secretaries-, of' the ; Unions, in order to obtain plans for the -fair and equitable distribution of work ut the different ports,; : and thab the Government establish boards of appeal: where the cases' of men- who had been discharged', uo«14 be investigated. He had known; cases-! of. men who had been employed on the wharf 10 to 15 years deprived of .-their-' and no reason given by the employers: If a union secretary were, uppmnted; adjudicator he woiild be regarded' as aii' in- ; ' t-erested person, therefore it able that a special appeal board should be instituted. :

Mr Jones considered that, secretaries of , -unions were the responsible persons.

Mr McLaren objected that the secretaries should put the views of .the union in 'the best possible way. \lhe. score- • tary should be one of the union's own men. : ■ ■■ , v-'-'.'i', Vv.i"'-'-^ Mr McLaren's suggestion, was -then. in the form of an amendment amj. uUtried.

The question of who should supply, itlie working; tools of. wharf. labourer3v.--\\viM> raised; and a resolution was carried itffirming' that shipping • companies'-shoultl provide wharf labourers. witik c workiipg tools.