WATERFRONT TROUBLE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21203, 28 August 1940, Page 7

WATERFRONT TROUBLE

SUSPENSION PENALTY MEN WHO REFUSED WORK CONTRACT SYSTEM DISCUSSED (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Tuesday The Waterfront Control Commission has imposed penalties on the 140 waterside wooers who refused to work with cranes on the Waiana on August 16 and 17, claiming they had been engaged to work with ship’s gear. The 70 men who were dismissed on August 16 have each been suspended from working on the wharves for eight days. The other 70 men, who were engaged to replace those dismissed and who refused to work on August 17, have been suspended for five days. The time of suspension dates from last Monday. For some of the men who are at present engaged on other ships, the suspension will be from the time their present employment is finished.

It was stated yesterday that the second 70 men received a lighter penalty, as their refusal was because of a sense of loyalty to their fellowunionists and not because of any irresponsibility. The amount of wages lost by the men suspended for eight days would be about £lO each. Contract System The chairman of the Waterfront Control Commission, Mr R. E. Price, said that discussions concerning the contract system for waterfront work in Auckland were held between the members of the Commission and the executive of the Auckland Waterside Workers Union on Monday and yesterday. The system would be limited to overseas ships carrying food, and the contracts would be made directly between the ship-owners and the commission, said Mr Price. The lowest improvement in the working of ships in Wellington since a contract system had been introduced there was 9 per cent, and the highest improvement had been 40 per cent. The system will be discussed with the men at their usual stop-work meeting on the second Wednesday of next month, and it is expected that it will be introduced a few days later.