THE AUCKLAND STRIKE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10298, 1 November 1911, Page 1

THE AUCKLAND STRIKE

LABOURERS' DIFFICULTY SETTLED. ' ' MEN TO RESUME WORK. POSSIBILITY OF TRAMWAY STRIKE. [FeOJI Ouii CoiIKESimDCCNT.] AUCKLAND, October 31. The general laliourers' strike in Auckland was ended this afternoon, the men accepting the basis of agreement arrived at by the conference of the parties concerned. The city's public services have been hampered for a week past by tiie strike of between 700 and 800 men.. ilad to-day's conference proved abortive, the tramway employees, v.uo belong to the federation of .Labour, wouicl ai.vo hav - e been called out. The possibility of trouble with the tramway men is not yet over. Noxfc Monday they will submit now demands to the Tramway Company, and if an increase or pay is not iortucoming they will strike immediately. This is made possible by their recent cancellation of registration under the Arbitration Act. Trouble with the Carters' Union is also forecast at an early date. The xUayor of Auckland (Mr C. J. Parr), in the course of an interview regarding the general labourers' strike, waid to me, "It is a matter of the deepest lvgrot chat SOU men should have been walking about for a week, losing nearly £2OOO iu wagea. One of the mon said to mo only a fow minutes ago, ' 1 am sorry we pulled out, though wo must stick to our union, especially fit this time, just before Christmas, when every working man is trying to get a fow shillings together for the holidays. It is going to make things very tight for ua for a bit.' " " A strike was absolutely unnecessary," continued the Mayor. " The whole thing was a storm in a teapot. It could have been settled on the basis of this morning's arrangement in half an hour last Tuesday if I had been afforded the opportunity of getting all the parties together for a conference. Through tho precipitancy and unreasonableness of a few mon the whole of Auckland's labour arrangements were dislocated. The city's public services wore disorganised and the whole community aroused to a state of resentment. It ought to prove a sufficient lesson to the Union that nothing can be gained by aggressive action which practically amounted to defying public opini-C'ii. lam glad the whole matter, is settled go far as the men are concerned. While the City Council feels very disappointed that some of its men should have gone out we will bear no ill-will. Every man shall have his job back, and the men who stood loyal to the city will not be forgotten." CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES. AN AGREEMENT. [Pjch Pkess Association.] AUCKLAND, October 31. A conference of representatives of the Drainage Board, the Labourers' Union and the contractors concerned in the strike and the. men employed on the drainage works, opened* this morning. Mr Semple, representing the Federation of Labour, denied that the Union had made threats. When ho informed the Mayor that New Zealand would be paralysed he spoke of an actual possibility. What was wanted, and all that they wanted, was that the contractors should come to an agreement that they would not Ist subcontracts.

Mr Gordon, representing the contractors, did not think it wise to surrender the privilege of sub-contracting, because they should retain some control over the work. They had paid the men above the award rates, they had not been subjected to hard and fast conditions, and the amount of subcontracting was eo 3mall that it was scarcely worth creating the extreme situation that had arisen. He regretted the course taken and was eorry for the men. Every contractor was propared to give fair and equitable treatment, and he suggested that the Union's demand was a matter for consideration in future contracts.

The Union secretary referred to troubles that had arisen in Onehunga and in the city through the bonus system of sub-contracting being introduced.

Alter thre9 hours' conference the basis of an agreement was reached under which tho existing contractors would reserve their right to sublet, but promised not to force any workman to accept a sub-contract. They also promised that there shall be a reinstatement and nothing in the nature of victimisation.

The Drainage Board promised that in no now contract shall there be a sub-contracting clause. The Union met at 3 p.m., confirmed the basis of agreement, and tiie strike ended.

_ Tho terms agreed to by all the parties to tho dispute aro as follows: —(1) All tho men now out on strike shall at mice agree to go baok to their respective work. (2) The Drainage Board shall modify Clause 3 of tho general conditions in all future contracts so as to prohibit tho sub-letting of tunnelling, excavating or any such concrete work to any" individual or party of man on anv of the works under the jurisdiction of the Drainage Board, but no other form of sub-contracting shall bo in any way affected. (3) The present contracts containing such "Clause 3 to remain, but the contractors agree that they will not victimise any workmen for refusing or declining to accept any such sub-contracts, nor insist upon any such workmen accepting any such and will, so far as they are able, take back in their old position any of the said men so out on strike for whom work is now available.

A feeling of general relief spread throughout the entire community when an " extra " announcing that the strike had beon practically settled was issued during, tho luncheon hour. When in the evening a further notice was issued to the effect that tho men had confirm vl the action of their delegates and declared the strike at an end, tho public mind was finally set at rest. Amongst those chiefly concerned, the men who had been on strike, no secret was made of the fact that they were genuinely pleased and relieved to have found a solution of their troubles.

Whilst the appointed delegates conferred with tho Drainage. Board and contractors' representatives at the City Council Chambers from 10.30 a.m. until close on 1 p.m., tho majority of the labourers on strike made merry at the Federal Mall, wbiiing away the time with an impromptu " sing-song" with a few speeches to lend variety to tho situation. At tho conference itself tho proceedings were conducted undci the chairmanship of Mr Parr, and were carried out in a dignified manner, tho best of feeling being manifested.