LABOR TROUBLES IN AUCKLAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1988, 6 November 1888, Page 2

LABOR TROUBLES IN AUCKLAND

(per press association.; Auckland, Nor Amber 5 The dispute which has caused the strike at MoArthur'd faotory appears to have arisen In a simple manner. A bootmaker who was In business on his own acoount Boaght employment irith.the firm, and it was suggested that he might be given a position as assistant foreman. Before engagmvnt the firm desired to ascertain what the 7 ' man's capabilities we*e, and thay gave htm six pairs of bootß to finishThese having been returned to the factory, the man it as given another six palra of boots of a different kind for finishing. Mr Rhodes, Seoretary of the Operative Union, who is employed m Mac»rthar and Oc.'s faotory warned the firm that they were breaking the rales of the Union In allowing work to go out of the premises. . The position of effalrs was explained to Rhodes, and he was also informed that tbe firm would refrain from giving cot any more work. This happened about a fortnight ago, and subsequently the bootmaker before referred to was given employment m the faotory at ao much per week. The Bootmakers' Operative Union, having had the man's case under consideration, fined him a guinea {or taking tho work out of the faotory, and he objected to piy the demand fcoiuse he was not a member of the Union He had been a member two months ago, when he seoeded m order to start m bualneFß on hia O irn acoouut, and he expressed his willing* neas to become a member again provided the fine was not insisted on. The Union having failed to obtain payment of the guinea from the workman, decided upon more forcible action. The; firm was requested to insist upon the fine being paid,, or discharge the employee, but they declined taking any nuoh course of action. The result was that on Saturday afternoon eighteen members of the Union left the employ of McArthur and 00., and six others gava a week's notice, so that the faotory is practically at a standstill. At a meeting held to-night the master bootmakers decided that the men out on strike from MoArthur's faotory be allowed until Wednesday morning to go back to work. Later. The strike at MoAtthur and Oo.'s boot faotory threatens to auama a serious aepeot 'I his firm, being one of those constituting the Baot makers' A?«:o'anon, are en ltled to reoeive support In any dispute of this kind, and a meeting of the filtetera' Assootafr'aa la to ba held to tako the whole matter into consideration, and if the notion of MoArthur acd 00. m allowing work to be taken out of. their premises is approved, a general look-oat Is considered unavoidable. The Bootmakera 1 Operative Union Insist on pay* ment of the fine, on the ground that one of their mbst binding rules was broken, and because they consider that any evasion of the rule would opon the door to nolimited employment of. boy labor.