GRAIN STORE WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 745, 18 February 1910, Page 5

GRAIN STORE WORKERS

INCIPIENT. STRIKE,

, i ; (By Telosrarh.-Presa ' Association.! : •' ' ! •.... Christchurch, ■ Febrjiary 16.VWhat appears to be a distinct breach ofthe Conciliation' and Arbitration law. on' the subject of'strikes -is' reported to' have; occurred, yesterday evening at Messrs! Wood. Brothers' grain'shells at•'Addingtbai-.

' Mr. F., R.. Cprson (of Wood ; . Bros.)'; interviewed, slated thai, at present, the firm had not decided whether or not to take action. , He added that, at'the be-, ginning; of. last, week, five of. the, men at. the; unnVgraih. store brought, under' the* manager's'notice- a.'representation to the effect, that other ompioyers,wore paying, a higher wage- to labourers in . 'grain stores. They were informed last Sattir-' day,, when being paid, that the higher' rato. was being paid only "to special men,' and that Wood Bros;"-Were'-'paying their grain carriers, tho rate provided for.in the. award. Last.' Monday' afternoon '.' the manager communicated with Mr. Corson by tolephoneto. the effect that'.the.•men' had •intimated' that- 1 they-''we're.'not;going' to work for'-'.the lower rate; 'At'' the manager's request; however,' •■'• they continued work,' m- order to givo the firm 'an opportunity, of / further; considering 'the matter. The firm, however,: was. unable to alter their previous decision,' and, on Tuesday,-afternoon,' tho men stated that theyvwero'.'not going .to 'work oh.', after; that.evening, and • they.'did not resume work' this morning. ■■■;'■'■•/!'. . ■■;. '■■•<\ According to an authority., on this'class of labour, the ■' trouble at' Wood' Bros/ grain store. : has arisen • out of -. the recent' case; brought by, the■ General • Labourers'/ Union before the ..Conciliation'•', Council. On that occasion the union jagreed,with: the grain store labourers' employers that the rate of pay should', be, 1?. per:, hour, with the ■ proviso .that regular -hands should, receive a rise—some'to' 9s.,'per. day, and some, to 10s. per day.. ! As .-a result; .some dO or 50 men - are - getting: this increased rate.'. The men: employed at Brown's, and Wood's stores claim that; they do the.same class of. work; and are consequently feeling- somewhat: sore on the point. 'They,,were at one;timd : .Tinder, the. general 'labourers'';' award,,', but, thinking -that .they,,;could- do .betterCfor. themselves, they became members'' of '. the Millers',' Enginedrivcrs" and Mill.' Eni•ployees' Union. When, however, : their case was before'the .Court, they were only.: able to obtain Is. per hour. Matters culminated,' yesterday, '■;. when the .tain, knocked 1 off-and "declined to. wbrk-foVSs'.. per''day;';. -'. ;■ ' : " .;';/ ' '"■■'"': ''.-< Mr.. E. Hansen; secretary of- the' Millers', Engmeclrivers', : and 'Mill Employees' Union';'on being seen,,".stated that/two: men "belonging to his 'union, ! and employed 'at Messrs; Wood Bros.'' store, had not struck,. but- tho men : who. had, gone': •tin strike did belong to. his union. They, wore young unmarried men who-would,, no' doubt,' have ! little, difficulty in. getting* employment;"" His union- 'had .had-iiio trouble in the matter ! of rates of: pay for casual'labour, in grain sheds,'' 1 and,'he: •thought'that it-'yras-to-.be regretted ■. that? the'men had gone on-"strike;?, ■-■'-.■.- ■■>!■ ■■■■■■•