Waterfront Workers Want Shorter Hours

Chronicle (Levin), 1 September 1949, Page 8

Waterfront Workers Want Shorter Hours

DUNEDIN, August 30. A "deeent" working day on the waterfront was of urgent importance to attain "decent" industrial relations, the national secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union (Mr. T. Hill) stated tonight. Mr. Hill, with the national vice-presi-dent (Mr. A. Drennan) and anottier member of the national executive arrived in Dunedin this afternoon to discuss the national policy and organisation with the Dunedin and Port Chaimers branches of the Waterside Workers' Union. Mr. Hill said that "burning" questions in the industry were hours of work and wages. The waterfronts of Great Britain, Europe and other co'untries worked an eight-hour day, the maximum hours being 48 a week. New Zealand watersiders, who were working a 59 to 68-hour week, were assailed when they resorted to a 44liour week. The 44-hour week exceeded by four hours the working week preseribed by the laws of the land 13 3-ears ago. "The waterside workers have learnt the hard wav. They recognise that it was only by unity and solidarity that thef? present living standards were obtained, and in that way only can they be improved. All efforts to divide tne workers in the recetn waterfront dispute tended further to strengthen the union," Mr. Hill said.