WATERSIDERS TAKEN 10 TASK

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1946, Page 4

WATERSIDERS TAKEN 10 TASK

FEDERATION SAYS NEGOTIATION ONLY METHQD OF SETTLING DISPUTES WELLINGTON, Dec. 29. "Repeated press statements concerniug the attitude of the New Zealand Pederation of Labour to the waterside dispute, leave the Pederation no alternative other than to take this opportunlty of acquainting all trade unionists as to its attitude," stated the secretary of the Pederation, Mr. K. Baxter today. "We have sought to avoid publieity at this stage of the dispute but statements that have been published make it necessary for the Pederation to say just where it stands. "T.he following letter from the nationnl executive of the Pederation of Labour to the national executive of tlie Waterside {1 Workers' Union, shows clearly the Pederation 's viewpoint." The lK letter reads : —

"The executive of the New Zealand Pederation of Labour has discussed your executive 's proposaJ that the Pederation of Labour should give its full snpport to your union 's claims in the present dispute and that in eonsideration oi' receiving such support from tlie Pederation, your executive will I'eeommend members of - your union to resume norrnal work and lo continue such norinal work provi'ied full satisfaction is obtained on your union 's claims. My executive has given eonsideration to your executive's proposaJ and has inslrneted me to reply as i'ollows : — "As you are awa ro the Waterfront Jndustry Gommission has been established to dcal with all claims concerning wages and eonditions of employment of waterside workers. We understand your union 's claims have alroady been refori'ed to the Waterfront Jndustry Gommission. It would appear that your executive is asking the Pederation of Labour to give a guarantee bcforchand as to what will be the decision of the Waterfront Industry Conimission on your claims and that, in eonsideration of receiving such guarantces, your executive will recommend your memliers to resume norrnal working. Neither the Pederation of Labour nor any other industrifu organisation can give any such guarantee. "The Waterfront Industry Gommission on whieh your union lias two representatives, is tbe judicial body which presumal^ly makes its decision on the merit.> of cases placed beforc it and it is not possihle for the Pederation of Labour to have any priot knowledge of wliat its decisions will be, What tbe Pederation can and will guarantee, howovcr. is to place your union 's case be fore the Waterfront Industry Gommission as effeetively as ]iossilile and thus ensurc that everything possilile is done to persuadc the Gommission to give a favourable decision. In line with its present poliey the Pederation will be happy to take up the casi* on your union 's behalf and will gladlv undertake to use all its resources in plaeing the ease beL'ore tbe Waterfront Industry Gommission as eonvineingly as possihle. We are firmly oi' opin ion this is a dispute eminehtly eapable of being scttled by ncgo tiation. "Gontrary to tbe statement in your letter qf 19th instant, vve lannot agree that tbe Pritne >[in.ster's letter in reply to represebt uitions made to him by the depu-ta-tion of 18th instant Jcavos you no llternative but to continue your present policy. The Prime Minis- • er's subsequent published statement confirms our view on the matter. "My executive has directed me to state that it does not agree with your executive's policv of restrieting hours of work on the waterfront in order to cnforce your claims. In line with the Pederation of Labour's policy of endeavouring to settle industrial disputeS by negotiation, we have at all times made it eloar to you that in our opinion your dispute can be amjeably settled by negotiation, Unfortunately your organisation has not sbown a disposition to settle it in this way but has, without giving opportunity to tbe' national executive of tlie Pederation of Labour to assist in reacliing a negotiated

( settlement, endeavoured to cnforce claims by a restriction of hours of work. "It is clear to us that tbe Prime Minister's let'ter of 20th Deeember lc1 ves the door wide opon to enable a satisfactory settlement of tbe dispute to be" achieved by negotiation and we cannot understand how you rau possiblv interpret tbe Prime Minister's letter as a ch'allenge to the trade union movement. of this country. Poi' instanee. tbe Prime IMYnister says: 'Had representations been made by your organisation to the Government at tlie time the pronouncement \vas made, discussions

could immediately have been arranged with a view to examining the etfeet of Ihe pronouneement. No order lias yet been m^ide and these discussions can still be held.' "In conneetion with the guar- • anteed wage, the Prime Minister says: 'Ile is advised by the ehair- ' man of the Conimission that while no eonditions had heen laid down, governing the payment of the guaranteed wage. be does not consider the workers should or would be penalised in tl.c way mentioned by Mr. Barnes. It is also proposed to make due allowance for unavqidable absence on "part of workers during days in the fourweekly period.' "Regarding improvements in aeeommodation and amenities, the Prime Minister says: 'The Government will do everything possihle to facililate tl^e provision of modern aeeommodation at the ports mentioned. including caiv teen faeilifies. ' "Concerning Saturday engagernents the Prime Minister says: ' Arrangements with regard to Saturday engagernents is, howovcr, a matter which could be given eareful and early eonsideration. I have no doubt that an a greemont satisfactory to all parties eonld be reacbeds' "Pinally the Prime Minister invites your executive to 'give some eonsideration to the offer of Mr. •fustiee Onglev to liear representations at onee from your organisafion with regard to the guaranteed wage and other matters refcrred to in ihe pronouneement. This meeting could immediately follow the resumption of norrnal work.' "The Prime Minister's letter is eouchod in most conciliatory terms. The Govornment is - not only will ing but aparently is anxious to bring about a friendly setilement of tbe dispute. Prospecis of achieving a settlement satisfactory to your union are so bright that we believe it would be iitter folly to reject the oppor- . i tunities for peaeeful settlement which are available. I am ' directed to advise you that a number of afliliations of tbe Pederation of Labour are now mvolved in tbe dispute. T Por example, 20 eoastal vessels have now been paid off and tbe wage and sustenanee of tbe erews of these sbips has -ceased. Drivers niay also ljccomo involved and we are informed other- workers are being paid off bee.ause material is not available to enable . tliem to earry pjntheir jolis. We Ii'ave roc^iviid ; - representations i'roiii the : An|algamated Sxie-i|ty of Railway Se'rvhnts, tlie Railway Tradesmen's Association, Loeomotive Engineers. Piremen and Gleaiiers' Association. and New Zealand. "Workers Union, requesting us to intervene in this dispute with a view to~bringing about an amicable settlement. To this end, and in tlie jnterests of tlie wliole of our industrial movement, we are asking your executivo to plnce tbe case in tlie liands of Ihe Pederation o'f Labour and revert to norma] working. "In conclnsion we appeal to your. executive in tbe interests of your mcnibei'S and in the interests of the wliole of the Labour movement, to follow tlie policy laid down by our annual conference, i.e., that tbe proper method of settling disputes is by negotiation. - This poliey is not only in tlie hxtcrests of-the industrial movement luit is in tbe interests of tlie whole

country. Tlie executive of * " f Pederation of Labour has alrcvJHt joined with you in disenssing your case with the Government. We are confident we can bring about a satisfactory settlement of this , dispute provided your executive will band the disrrate over to us and thus avoid a dislocation of jndustry and inevitable hardship fo waterside workers, to all trade unionists, and to tbe wliole labour movement." Tlie letter is signed by Mr. Baxter, socrofary, and addressed to Mr. T. Hill, New Zealand W7aterside Workers' Union secretary.