HOTEL WORKERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23317, 28 September 1945, Page 4

HOTEL WORKERS

Strike At Auckland Five Houses Affected (N.Z.P.A.I AUCKLAND. Sept. 27. Th: taimen, waitresses, kitchen hands ami house stalls in live Auckland hotels went on strike at It) o'clock this morning. The hotels were the Grano, Station. Waverley, Auckland, and Star (Newton), all of which are operated bv Hancock and Co.. ltd. 1 he bars remained closed during the day. Service came to a standstill and guests had to make their own arrangements for lunch and dinner. The dispute which resulted in the cessation of work concerns wages. It was stated to-night that some of the employees had tor some time been receiimg more than the award rates. When an increase of 10, - a week was recently announced by the Arbitration Court the wages of employees who had teen receiving extra money were adjusted so that the additional payments were absorbed in the Court's rise.

The decision to stop work was made at a meeting of the employees on Wednesday. About 300 workers are affected by the stoppage, but it was stated to-night that there were no indications that the dispute would extend to other hotels. Negotiations were carried out this afternoon between the employers’ and workers’ representatives. but without a settlement being reached.

At 10 o'clock this, morning the staffs stopped the work on which they were engaged and in many cases left their jobs half-finished. Seme of the hotels opened their bars for two or three minutes in the morning and evening as a formality to comply with the law, but no business was done. It was estimated that about 350 guests were affected by the strike. Their main reaction was to make the best of the position without complaint. One manager said that his lounge usually thronged with people, was still and quiet throughout to-day. The few people who drifted in found that there was no staff to give service and went elsewhere. In the evening regular bar customers lost no time in proving on to hotels which were operating as usual.