N.Z. SOLIDARITY WITH U.S. MARITIME UNIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1947, Page 2

N.Z. SOLIDARITY WITH U.S. MARITIME UNIONS

■ •» — WELLINGTON, June 7. Action in New Zealand is expected if American shipowners take lock-out actioii against maritime unions on June 15 as is expected, said the seeretary of tlie New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union (Mr. T. Hill) todav. As the result of communication by letter .giittet&iephone with the presideut of the Longshoremen 's and Warehousemen's Union in San Francisco (Mr. £1. Bridges) -a resolution was passed at the P^deration of Labour conference offef- ' ing support to the 'American unions in the event ..of a ship-owners ' lock-out against union labour. The resolution passed at the federation conference stated that the federation oxpressed full support to the American trade union movement in its struggle against the anti-Labour legislation now being enacted in the United States. The resolution fui'ther stated that the conference recommended its maritime affiliations to give full support to the American maritime workers in their struggle. Asked today the signilicance of the federation resolution, Mr. Hill saiu that in a letter received this week Mr. H. Bridges, whose organisation extend ed from Mexico to Alaska, stated that American longshoremen and seamen faced a lock-out on June 15, as American shipowners tended to take ad vantage of the new legislation. Mr. Bridges added that Labour in America was undergoing an organised attack on its basic freedom. "As the result of a telephone conversation I had on Thursday with Mr. Bridges, the Federation of Labour was asked to pa§s the above resolution," said Mr. Hill. "That resolution means that American ships coming to New Zealand will he declared hlack hy all maritime affiliations of the Federation of Lahour if the ships are manned or handled by non-union lahour." " 1 ■ — —