WANGANELLA STILL “BLACK” SHIP

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 February 1947, Page 5

WANGANELLA STILL “BLACK” SHIP

SEAMEN WANT 17s 6d AN HOUR FROM STRANDING (P.A.i Wellington, Feb. 21. Wellington unionists who were working, or likely to be involved in work on the Wanganella, now In the floating dock, continued to-day to declare the ship black in sympathy with thee laims of Australian seamen for danger money. The union representatives met the employers’ agents at a conference presided over by Mr. E. Taylor, Secretary of Labour, this morning.

Unionists advanced claims for 17s 6d an hour danger money for Australian seamen from the time lhe Wanganellji was stranded on Barrett’s Reel to the time she berthed in the harbour. They also asked lor 10s an hour for New Zealand workers. After discussions the employers' representatives left to communicate with their agents in Australia. A reply has not yet been given to the union officials, but may be available to-morrow. Tiie men of seven unions are standing firmly behind tiie claims of the Australian seamen advanced by the Federal Secretary of the Australian Seamen's Union (Mr. V. Elliott). Until satisfaction is achieved on these claims they are continuing to declare tiie Wanganella "black ” The dispute involves engineers, boilermakers, shipwrights, plumbers, harbour workers and waterside carpenters.