THE NEW UNION

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1442, 17 May 1912, Page 8

THE NEW UNION

WHY IT WAS FORMED,

ALLEGED BOYCOTTING.

(By Tcleßrapli- j Prcss Association.)

Waihi, May 16,

'A meeting.of,,thoi.new-,.;;Engine-dTiycrs, ■Union- was heldj'yesterday,; when •reasons were stated .'for\;the; formation: of thenew ■union:: The„chiqf,,rea'spn,-given was that the drivers-and winders resoryed. the l-Mit-'of forming'.a union of their own craft ' Drivers had lead reliable information that it was likely that legislation would be asked for lcmicing tho size ot engines which are controlled-by-engine-drivers, to-mnke'lo-h.p. the limit which holdors of first-class tickets could handle, and that any over that power must bo controlled by engineers. If that was passed many who .held.second-class grade would be out of work. The new union was out to protect it* own interests in connection .with the- marine question or the Miners' Union. . The'presidoiii; said tho majority ot members of the now union were no party to tho existing agreement between the Miner's' Union and the companies. I hoy had broken no agreement, and they strongly objected to the boycotting which was being introduced. All engine-driver had been compelled to join the iNliners Union .under threat of boycott and a refusal to go down in the cage at his shatt. A member of tho new union had also been boycotted at his lodginghouse, and compelled! to have .a tabic., to .himself. It was also alleged--that-certain-tradesmen of the/town wcro, threatened with boycott if thoy supplied members of the new ■union. Tho president .concluded by saying that members of the now union objected to Mr. Parry nnd Mr. Dowgray insisting upon their being medically, examined every twelve months, when members of the' Miners' Union objected to such examination themselves, and to the imposition of an annual fee. ~-,■- ~ In this connection it was stated in tho presence of a press representative that one of the members of tho new union employed at tho Grand Junction power-housc-had been intimidated last evening bv a Miners' Union official, who ordered llm to draw tho fires. Ho was also subjected to personal reflections. Tho ©resident, in reply to the allegation that the new union only consisted of a few men, said tho roll number was over thirty, and that they had the promise of ten. moro next day. A large number of dressmakers btb to be dismissed as tho result of tho Blackness in trade caused by the strike.