Hydro Strike lay Be Protracted

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1948, Page 7

Hydro Strike lay Be Protracted

AUCKLAND, March 14. The prospects are noc bright for an earl.v settlement of the Mangakino strike. A union meeting is expeeted to be held vvithin the next few days wnen an att'Cmpt may be made to secure another -secret bailot on the st'tike' issue. Thd offtcikl -attitude to- 'the' workers deni&ndh eriggerft's preparatiou ' for = a faitly lengthy eessation 6f wb-rk -it ueeeistlary as res'istance • to the 'st'rikersli Hotvevch,'- new d'evelbptnehts* may come from Wellington as flie striker^-' case'is being handled . there by the-iNew Zealand Workers '■ Union and the engineers are leaving the Professional Lhgineers' Association to espre's's theii" attitude. ■ : ' the strik'efs consist of abo'ut' 3l) Hydro:Electric Department employeef and 850 men of the Public WorkslDfei] partme.nt.. O.thers in idjeness are'niotei than 50 lonw drivers'who ate: iiot mexfiliers of the Workers ' Uhion::qi,;-part,ies'' to the strike but who haVe beehV'i-enffefL ed idle. ' • * • ■ ' _ 'About 100 'members of the eampVstaft" are still performing essential' duties. Qther sections outs'ide the . .Woj'kers", Uniori Still employed are about 100, men engaged in building construction in the township, private c'aterers who are still providing nieals for the men on a casb basis, and official personnel such as I'ost Office staff, school teachers aua police.