WATERSIDERS' GRIEVANCES

Chronicle (Levin), 14 January 1947, Page 6

WATERSIDERS' GRIEVANCES

5000-WOKD PAMPHLET ISSUED I AUCKLAND, Jan. 13. i "We do uot vvant to split the Laiiour j nioveniont, but to consolidate it."| This is an carly statoment in tlie com- j prehensive pamphlet, cxplaining the waterside workers' claims in the national dispute, issued todav. In approximateiy 5000 words, the pamphlet deals with inany aspects from the workers' viewpoint, and states: "When we emerge successful from this dispute, we believe the Labour movement, and consequently the claims of all the workers of Kew Zealand, will be imnieasurably strengthened. ' ' The pamphlet states, inter alia: "We are forced to liglit those offieials of our : Labour Government and the Federation of Labour, wlio line themselves up with employers. " The pamphlet details the waterside workers' rnajor claims, and says: "Ko section oiq organisation of the workers has yet been found to deny tlie flierit of the waterside workers-' claim. In 1'act, liids't of the other workers' organisations' eonsidef that the waterside worlcefs are l'ar toox mode^t in their demands in this conneetion. " Referring; to the employers' attitude to the waterside workers, ihe pamphlet suiumarisuis' it as follows: "If;you arq irot the-rC'when f happe'h to want'you; you shall be penalised as required by Ihe con'ditions of your employment. " The/ pamphlet conlinues that world1 wide, recognition had been given to.tlic case-of Ihe .wa'terside workcr's claims t'or payment for making himself available for work in the industry at the eiuployers' request. ^Guaranteed Wage. it also- ktatcs that the basie'principl'e' oi' a guaranteed wage was niade maiidatory iu respect of 17 ports by the order of the Waterfront Control Commission, which also raised the guarantee to £3 per week. More tliun six yeurs have passed, and this inadequate guarantee had only been provided for at four of the 17 ports. "Kepeated requests have been made for tlie fulfilmeut of this promise. " The pamphlet continues, referring to "Ihe inyth of extraordinary wages on the wharves, " that average earnings have been dropping lieavily since the last year of the war. Quoting the parimahu' case of oue waterside worlter vvlio did earn £519 in the year ended March 31, 194(5, the pamphlet states that the amount earned iu ordinary tinie was '£294, with £225 for overtime. That ° overtime involved 132 evenings from (i p.m. To 9 - p.m., 25 Uundays all dav, 27 Haturday mornings, and 1(3 Baturdays all day. The pamphlet connnents on "the injustice of lixing an liourly rate for waterside workers on a total number of ordinary and overtime hours," bccause it is "foreign to all working class principlcs, that wage rates should be determined by refurence to overtime." After traversing the decision of the chairmnn of tlie Waterfront Industry Commission on the guaranteed wage daipi, the pamphlet alleges that " it ga,v£ lip service to the guaranteed dairy wage but negated it by a socalled four-wcekly guarantee of £25. Ls it to be wondered at that the rank and (ile of the waterside workers, reading this decision on Thursday, Xovember 2G, became . thoroughly inccnsed aiid demanded meetings of hiS branehes and insistod on an immediate liinitation of the hours of work to 40 per week ? " Shipowners Sitting Back Laughing. The pamphlet goes on to revievv the negotiations which followed. It refers to the meeting attended by "the Cabinet Ministers, the two national executi ves, Mr. Bockett, of the comiuission, and the Prime JMinister presiding. " lt soon became apparent that tlie mind of the Government was alxeadv made up. After referring to the "war of nerves commenced by the employers and certain Government offieials, ably assisted by certain leaders of the federation," the publication says: "For the lirst tiuie in Kew Zealand the situation is presented to th,e [leople of the shipowners, sitting back in their comfortable offi.ee eliairs, laughing at the political and trade union leaders, and'filling a role which .they themselves iilled in 1S90. " The pamphlet goes on: "With the announcemeut of the Kew Zealand Transport Workers' Federation 's endorsement of the waterside workers' claims there* was an immediate intersilication of the campaign to force waterside workers to resume overtime work. Secret meetings among union offieials were held and strenuous efforts were made by some trade union leaders to seeure the support of certain organisations for the policy of the Federation of Labpur, whicli had become now openly more hostile to Ihe waterside workers. Without cotisul tation with

their exeeutives, or the national council, certain orgauisations committed themselves in support of the Federation of Labour executi ve." After a short conference this inorning the national president of the Waterside Workers' Union (Mr. H. Barnes) left by air for Wellington to attend the meeting of the national council of the union, which opens today.