Overtime Refused On A Phosphate Ship

Chronicle (Levin), 18 February 1948, Page 3

Overtime Refused On A Phosphate Ship

AUCKLAND ,Feb. '17. By five o'clock this afternoon all cargo work on the. Auckland water' • front was at a standstill for the day as the result of a xefusal by waterfront workers to aeCjOpt overtime. This was the second day of the union's stand which ■ is being made as a protest against- the deeision of the Waterfront Industry Commission^ 011 the go-slow action of workers on the phosphate steamer Cape Tork. Two members of the Waterfront Industry -Cominission, Captain II. A. Anderson, one of the emplovers' repre-se-ntatives, and 'Mr, J. Ulood, nnion nominee^ arrived from Wellington and visited the Cape York with 'the ComI mission's Auckland branch manager, Mr. W. J. Cuthbert. . The . Commissioners will return by air to Wellington tomorrow. & The national secretarv-of the Waters'ide Workers-' Union, Mr. T. Hill, dis cussed the dispnte with union leaders . in Auckland today. It is the intention of the unoin not to accept overtime or

oaturday work on any ship lintil the departure of the Cape York which is discharging bagged phosphate fr'om oxax, Tunisia. She should complete unloading towards the end >of next week. No development.s oceurred today to change the- union poliey and unless a settlenient is reached before the Cape York sails, there will be major congestion on the Auckland waterfront. At present every berth in port is occupied. The waterside workers adopted a goslow policy last Wednesday afternoon. The men have been granted 2s 6d an liour dirt money because of the dusty llature of the cargo and a request for two extra men to each gang has been acceded to, but the workers are now demanding dirt money at the rate of 5s an hour and an issue of milk. Thc matter was referred to the Coiniuissi dti.