WHAT TERMS MAY BE

Chronicle (Levin), 15 February 1947, Page 6

WHAT TERMS MAY BE

WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The settlement is expected to raise a storm of pi-otest from sliipowners, who ina.v denounee it as a substantial capitulation on the part of the Govern ment to the waterside woi'kers. The settlement does not eoneede all

the demands of tlie nnion, howevcr, but may be regarded as a highly favourable eompromise for tlicm on their four-point claims. This eompromise is expectcd to include: 1. An improved guaranteed wage and dailv attendanee nioney decision, extending tlie attendanee money guarantee to all secondary ports. At presenl the guarantee eovers only main ports. 2. Retcntion of tlie orders which restrict the right of employers to transfer labour from oue sliip to another, and retcntion of the svstem of spelling. These have been ma.jor points at issue betueeu the shipowners and the workers and are two of the most vital eoneessions. 3. Abolition as far as possible of the system of engagement of workers on Saturduy morning for Saturday work. As far as possible workers will be notified on Friday. 4. The waterside workers' claims for a wage-rate 25 per tent, above the rate for uriskillcd workers will be deferred until the application has been lieard by, the Arbitration Court. The union 's demands have been press ed this week with the threat in the background of another major hold up along the wliarves. The union had ar ranged for piutual support from Australian waterside workers and was assured of support also from some of the mi litaut New Zealand unionists. ; The settlement is expected to, hayjq widc repercussions upon the industrih.1 movement and upon the shipping industry.