How State Coal Mine Strike Arose

Chronicle (Levin), 22 June 1948, Page 7

How State Coal Mine Strike Arose

Press AssociationJ

(Per

GREYMOUTH, June 21. "The men decided l^y a big inajority fco take strike action until the right to hold mine-mouth meetings without penalty, is granted to them again," said the pre'sident of the Runanga State Miners' Union, Mr. G. E. English. "This nieans that the Liverpool and Strongman State miners will be on strike until the dispute is settled." Mr. English was reporting the outcome of a mass meeting of the Runanga State Miners' Uuion held tliisf morning. Ue added that the decision had been conveyed to the Minister of Alines, Mr. McLagan, and Under-Secretary of Mines, Mr. Bcnney, by telegram and their comments were awaited. Neither of the mines was worked today. The loss of production is estimated at about 800 tons. Mr. English said the secretary of the Grey miners ' eentral eoinmittee, Mr. W. Purdy, had been present at the close of the Runanga meeting and the mai ter had been referred to that coinmit tee. A deputation from the Runanga Union would nieet the eentral conunittee tomorrow to discuss the matter furtlier. The imposition of a penalty for time lost at mine-mouth meetings, is stated to be the result of the introduction of the 7-hour day. Under the new working conditions the men are paid a bonus of an hour's pay for a full 7-hour day, to compensate them for lesser working honrs uut where they do«not work the full seven hours, the bonus is not payahle. Dissatisf action with the "doeking" ' of the pay eulniinated in the calling of a mass meeting for yesterduy morning but the attendance was not considered large enough for a majofity decision to be roached and tho meeting was adjourued until this morning. ii is understood the management ugroecl to concede tlie men the right to hold a mine-mouth meeting once a montli without penalty but that was not satisfac tory to the union. Last week two tninoniouth meetings were held at the Strongman State inine where the dispute originated and on oue of tliose (lays the men worked for only a littlo over four hours. Under thc new working' conditions they were paid for four hours and not for a seven-hour day.