Union Men Refuse To Move Ship's Hatches

Chronicle (Levin), 21 May 1948, Page 7

Union Men Refuse To Move Ship's Hatches

press Association)

(Per

AUCKLAND, May 20. A showdown bctween thc Waterside Workers' Union and the Waterfront Industry Commission over the question of a Coprt action to decide tlie validlty of the Commission 's decisxou in the Mountpark dispute early in Mareh, appeared on tne verge of coming to a head' today. when union labour refused to move the hatches from the Mountpark whicli had returned to Auckland with a cargo of .'1000 tous or bagged wheat from Australia. Thc 1 union claixns that until a test case in Court decided tlie validitv of tne Commission 's decision on the previous dispute, tlie hatches should be yremoved by cranes within the terms of the previoiis settlcment. When the ship berthed on Wednesdav morning no union labour was available and non-union labour was eugageu. The workers removed the Hatches from Nos. 2 and 4 holds manually and at the end of tlie day erected tents over the holds to avoid replacing the covers. Union labour was av'ailable this morning and repiaced the non-union men in the two holds. The gangs in the open holds worked normallv but other union men engaged for Nos. 3 and 5 holds refused to remove the hatches. Thesc idle men remained on the job untii shortlv after 4 p.m. Marine Department surveyors inspected. the hatches and their report was handed to tlie Waterfront Commission, the Union Co., and to the Union. While the contents were not released officiallv, it is understood they stated that the hatches conformed with the regulations.