STRIKE AT AUCKLAND

Wairarapa Daily Times, 5 September 1936, Page 8

STRIKE AT AUCKLAND

CALLIOPEf DOCK WORKERS.

AUCKLAND, Friday.

About, 100 civilian employees at the Calliope Dock decided to-niglit not to return to work to-morrow morning. It is understood that this action was taken because no change has been made in, the regulations governing their employment to reduce hours of work in accordance with the intention of the Government’s recent legislation. The men, who are employed on a casual basis at< hourly rates, and . include engineers, carpenters, shipwrights and painters, have been working a 44-hour week, with work on Saturday. A meeting was) held at lunch time, and the men decided to press for a 40hour week, with no work on Saturday. ’The manager of the dockyard communicated with Wellington in the afternoon, and explained .the position to the men, pointing out that the regulations had not been modified as the Government had not come to any decision regarding a reduction of- hours of employees in .small departments. As a result of the, manager’s explanation, the men held another meeting after work and decided not to return to-morrow. It .is understood that the decision was taken; on a show of hands and was unanimous.

The manager stated that the dockyard would be opening to-morrow for anyone who turned up. What the position would be if the men failed to report for duty was not very clear. The special set of regulations under which the men were employed laid down what would happen to a man who left of his own accord, and he had told the men that if they did not turn up. he would .have no option but to consider that they had left on their own account. The absence of civilian labour will not interfere with the docking of H.M.S. Dunedin, which is leaving her berth to make way for the Achilles, the new cruiser arriving on Sunday. This work will probably be carried out by naval ratings and employees of the Auckland Harbour Board. —(P.A.)