WORK ON WANGANELLA

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1947, Page 5

WORK ON WANGANELLA

-Presjs Assoeiation

— ■ T-. - V Company Asks Unionists to StartMonday

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, April 11. The contractors, William Gable apcV Company Limited, propose to recommence work 0I1 the Wanganella 011 Monday. They have adviSed the engineers', metal workers', waterside workers' and boilermakers' nnions that a num-, ber of their members will he required to start then under their curfent rates of pay and award conditions. This was stated by the New Zealand Employers.' Federation. The" statement set out that an emergency committee of the Federation met today to -consider the "Wanganella case and after a careful review it was deeided that the unions at *the moment concerned in the dispute be advised cto. the effect stated previously. The statement continued that representatives of the Wellington Boilermakers' Union desired to reopen the payment made t6 the members of their union engaged in the repair work on the. Wanganella dui'ing the period that the ship was on Barrett's Reef. The workers on this occasion werfe paid at the rate of l'7/6 per houi' and the company having paid this amount considered that the case was settled and should not be reopened. Further, there were three parties' to . be considered : the owiiers, the underwriter^s and the firm undertaking the repairs. The union, .however, was adamant and was not prepared to give the matter further consideration but demaiided that a special committee or tribunal be set up with an independent chairman to hear the dispute which, in the opinion of the employers .was non-existent. The Minister of Labour had. been advised of the position and eopies of the correspondence were submitted to him. A letter sent to Mr. P. E. Warner, Secretary o.f the Wellington BoiRrmakers' Union, today, by Cable and Company stated : "We refer to the offer which you made today that the members of your union were prepared to resume work 011 the Wanganella proYided the question of rat'es of pay applicable while the vessel was on Barretf's Reef is referred to a committee?^ providpd in the award whose decision is to be final. We have previously advised you, and take this opportunity of doing so again, that we are not in a position to reopen discusss*on on this question beeause we contend that no dispute exists, and in any event the question of reopening this part of the case requires the consent of the owners and nnderwriters with whom we are in communication. ' ' The letter to the - f'our unions from the company stated: "We 'propose to recommence work 011 the Wanganella on Monday next and are taking this opportunity of advising you that we shall require a number of members of your union and will be calling on them to commence work at 8 o'clock on Monday next under their current rates of pay and award conditions,^ and your a&sistance and coroperation ih this direction would he appreciated." There has been no work done 011 the ship for 51 days.