SUPPORT IN NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24901, 14 June 1946, Page 7

SUPPORT IN NEW ZEALAND

REFUSAL TO HANDLE NON UNION SHIPS

UNANIMOUS decision by LABOUR FEDERATION ‘

■P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 13. Support for American maritime workers in their strike scheduled for Saturday, was unanimously voted at the annual conference of the New Zealand Federation of Labour to-day. If the strike takes place it is likely that American seamen in New Zealand ports will refuse to take their ships to sea. Further in terms of the federation’s resolution, New Zealand waterside workers will refuse to handle American vessels having non-union crews. This Is the first instance of the effective operation of the World Federation of Trade Unions in securing international action. The World Federation was approached by the American seamen for support, and at the New Zealand Federation’s conference to-day a cable message from world headquarters was received asking that action bp taken. The following resolution, moved by the retiring president, Mr A. McLatfan. in substance the same, but slightly amending the earlier proposal from Mr T- Hill, secretary of the New Zealand Waierside workers* Union, was carried unanimously: “This conference assures the World Federation of Trade Unions that it will advise New Zealand maritime and waterside affiliations in particular, and all its affiliations in general, to act in complete solidarity with .United States maritime unions, and to aefuse to work ships manned by non-union crews.” '