Air Department Order Breaks Strike

Chronicle (Levin), 20 September 1946, Page 7

Air Department Order Breaks Strike

The strikmg airmen. at Qhakea ivent * back to work yesterdav morning on the receipt of a signal froin Air Depart- , inent, Wellington, : wliich stated that if the men wero not prcpared to work the full service hours their release from the service could be .authorised.,, This was forestalled by a meeting of the strikers in the social hall on Wednesday evening at which the better i'eelLng umong the majorlty preyhilod and it was decided to call the strike off in order to give the Comytanding Olticer, Group Captain It. J, Oohen, A.F.C., a cliance to prove to the men that he was in teality wai'ting for- a signal' from Wellington. It was not a uaanimou'sdecision but the majority prevailed and tlie men were Teacly tp returxv to work. Yesterday morning- the signal did arrive and the Gomiuanding Olxicer addressed the -men- f or five 'minutes in tlie social hall. They immediately resolvod to return to work. The order read as follows: — ■ "The essential services of all "Air Force stations must be maintainetl throughout the week and personnel must be available to' undertako work that Tiiay be required at any, tiiue. Every endeavour will be made by Hta • tion Oommanders at week-ends to re- . duee the number of men employed to a , minimum necessary to meet require- r ents duriug that pefiod. , For personnel not prepared to abide { Dy these conditions of service and who j would prefer to terminate their engage ment with the Air Force, release action r will be a,uthcrised. Station' Cominand- 1 ers are to convey these notices to all } personnel in the most appropriate manner." ' ' • : • The effect of ihe order was staggering and all weut back to-work with the ex- j eeption of nine men who ajfplied for ! their release. The general feelijag amongt the airmen was oue of relief that thoj tension had broken. The nine meh will | receivo their release from the service ( aluiost immediately. Work proceeded j as usual for the rest of the day. ! Among thfc nhmerous vonfusing reports wliich were in circulatjon 011 Wed nesday regarding the strike, was oue declaring tliat the guard of lionour for. the Governor General during his visit to Palmerston Nortli yesterday, had failedi to parade. Members of tho guard ofi honour deny this aspersidn on their [ loyalty and state that bocause they had ' stood aloofy they themselves-were the subject of unkindly refcreuces from the other men.