STRIKERS' PARADISE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 225, 16 June 1908, Page 7

STRIKERS' PARADISE

RECORD OF'REYOLTS. NO FEWER THAN 17 IN 18 MONTHS. A LOST REPUTATION. " An arbitration system whioh does not prevent strikes is a failure, and cannot survive." Mr. Justice Sim, ill his judgment on tho Blackball ■ / miners' case. / For several years, after tho passing of lh« Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, New Zealand enjoyed tho uniquo reputation of being "a land without strikes." In tho. opinion of many critics this immunity from forceful settlement of labour disputes seemed to bo ono of its happiest blessings. During tho last twelve months, however, no ono who was not very rash or very* ignorant would have given to New Zealand its former flattering designation of, a. "strikless la ■in." Mbother the arbitration system is or is not a failure is a question still fiercely argued. If, however, tho tost of failure laid down by Mr. Justico Sim, and quoted at tho head of this ■ article, is a true one, thero can bo no doubt that the system has failed. During a little moro than eighteen months this country has seen at least 17 "strikes," in the popular acceptance of the word. Somo of them were not strikes in tho eyo of tho law, either because no award was" in force when the men ceased work, or, in ono instance, because the troublo'xamo under, another Act .than tho Arbitration Act. They were all strikes, however; in, the sense that the men dropped their tools and thus adopted forceful measures far tho amelioration of their grievances, instead of resorting to tho peaceful means of mutual discussion and agreoment. Tho following is the list, with bi isf particulars in each caso:— . A FORMIDABLE LIST.

K sMk! >C w ¥' Auckland Tramways stiite. Woik was resumed the same day. Tho company was ci ed by the Labour department to appear before the Arbitration Court --tor alleged Avrougful dismissal. Tho company o ?f/f Ud ( } l ¥- U) ' IVo em P £1 eac™ 3 ant ' lvore ne( l (May 11) at Wellington stiuck. The men were cited individually before the Arbitration Court for striking. cas ® was dismissed, as the agreement was ruled to be invalid. February 15, 1907—Forty slaughtermen and assistants at Pareora struck. They were fined . (February 2/) .£5 each. l-ebruary 26, 1907,-Employees of the Gisborno Iroramg Works, and Nelson Bros., Gisborne, struck. Strike lasted a few days only strikers were fined (Slay 11) <C 5 each: A ~lnvercargill slaughtermen stiuck. As no award was in force, no action > could be taken.February 20, 1307—Belfast, Islington, and Fairfield slaughterman struck. Tliev were fined to the uunlber of 172, each (March 5 and G). March 4, 1807.—Slaughtermen at Burnside Freezing Works struck. Returned to work almost immediately. No award was in force: therefore, no action could bo taken. February —— .—Butchers at Parcora Freezing Works struck on account of one of their number being discharged for smoking on tho board. A special place was provided for smoking, but tho butcher discharged infringed the regulations. Work was resumed next day. February 22 and 28, 1908.—Fellmongers and chamber hands at Wanganui Freezing Works struck. Strike lasted a few minutes only, when the men's demands were conceded by tho company.: A case against the men individually is still pending. The cause of the strike was a demand for a small rise in pay. February 27, 190S. —Blackball coal miners , struck. Union was fined (March 12) .£75. . This was the first case in which proceedings Were taken against-the Union as such. February 27,1908.—F0rty-one employees of the Gear Company at Petone struck. They returned , to work a few minutes later, pending tho company's decision. No award in force; no action taken. March G, 1908.— Picion Freezing Works employees struck. Strike of very short duration. No award in force; no action taken. April 30, 100S. —Ten' bakers at Hastings struck, returning next day. No action taken. May 15, 190S. —Coal miners at Christio's Mine, ■ Greeu Islajid, ceased work, on the ground that the mine was unsafe. This came under tho Coal Miners' Act, not the Arbitration Act May 21,", li)oS—Auckland Tramways strike. Work resumed- May 25. Matter referred to special Board for settlement. Case filed against tho Union. June 10, 1908.—A contractor at Blackwatei having obtained four coiitrdfcts from tlu mines, it is alleged at higher prices thanthose put in by othor men, tho miners, on all save the original contract, working foi him resolved to coase work, objecting, a* they say, to the system of plural contracting, and to tho company placing contracts- at other than tho lowest tender. The dispute is not yot settled. -. ... June 11, 190S.—Navvies employed on the tramways construction work at Wanganui .struck for an increase from Bs. to 9s. per day. Tho disputo is still unsettled. MR. TRECEAR'S REPORT.

! With regard to the first Auckland tramways strike, and the slaughtermen's strikes, which set tho cxamplo to other trades, the following notes are taken frim the last annual report to Parliament of Mr. E. Tregcar, Secrotary for Labour: — . "During the year, two industrial disputes have disturbed the usual quietude of tha Dominion ill regard to strike and lock-out. On November 14, 1906,'-a short strike occurred, conducted by men of tho Auckland Electric Tramway Company. There had for somo timo been dissatisfaction among tho motormcn in regard to. teaching learners, but the dismissal of two conductors who wero Believed to liavo been discharged summarily for offences not committed (or not inquired into) brought tho troublo to a point. Tho men refused to work unless tho conductors wero reinstated, and a strike was instituted. It commcnccd in tho afternoon, and was over liofo're midnight. Tho company has silica been finedby tho Arbitration Court for dismissing men without notico, and the men wore fined for taking part; in a strike. Tha President of the Court said that 'tho strike was short-lived, and' seems to have taken place without premeditation or organisation of any:kind.' /'The other strike, or series of strikes,was of a more serious character. On February 12, 121 slaughtermen employed at the works of tho Gear Meat Company and tin Wellington Meat Export Company wont out on striko for an increased rate of pay. Thej had been .working under an industrial agreement which had expired, but tho provision! of which still remained in force until a neiv agreemont or award should bo made. Negotiations took place, and advances in pricef wore pvolfored by tho employers, but wen not accepted, as not being sufficient. Application to tho Arbitration Court was made by tho Inspector of Awards to enforce tho Act against the men for aiding or abetting a strike. Tho Court heard the case,-but decided that through a flaw in tho original industrial agreement it had never boon legally an agreement, and thereforo tho application was dismissed. The strikers' finally resinned work at the establishments near Wellington. In tho meantime, howovor, tho striko had spread to other placos, and tho meat export industry was paralysed at Christclmrch, l'areira, Gisborno, etc. Tho Arbitration Court proceeded- from place to. place and heard tho applications for enforcement of awards. Tho pica which had succeeded in Wellington—viz., informality of tho agrepment—was of no avail in other places wlioro awards were in force. Tho meii wero fined individually each for having aided and abetted a striko. Somo liavo paid tho fine in full; somo aro paying by instalments to tho Labour Department. Tho wholo alTair is greatly to bo regretted. It has, however, brought to the front tho great importance of the question whethor the Arbitration Court could punish men by imprisonment if tho fines inflicted on them by tho Court are left unpaid and oven laughed at Fortunately, howovor, tho session of Parliament is near at hand, and the very dobatab'lo position-will, probably bo discussed aiid sot- ' .tied by tho Legislature."-