ANOTHER COMPLAINT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1689, 4 March 1913, Page 5

ANOTHER COMPLAINT.

LEGAL ASPECTS. ARBITRATION ACT. The chief grievances of the engineers aro recited in the above statement, but one of their most serious complaints is that the men tinder their control—the firemen, greasers, and trimmers—are paid ovortime, and at such rates that the tatter's monthly drawings nre frequently greater, than those of the engineers. For this reason they aro demanding increases of practically 15 per cent, on present current rates, and also payment for hours worked in excess of eight per day. 300 MEN INVOLVED. I, There are GOO members in the New Zealand branch of the Institute of Marino Engineers, half of whom are afloat and the remainder at work on shore. Of the number afloat, 300 are in the employ of the Union Company. Tho New Zealand branch is affiliated to the Australian branch. Of the total number of members in both branches, the Australian Institute claims 98 per cent, of the working marine engineers in the Commonwealth. Regarding t'ho JNew Zealand Institute, it has been claimed that they have 100 per cent. - of the working marine engineers in New Zealand. Both these bodies are affiliated to the British Institute, which controls a very large number of men. It will thus be seen that, should the strike bo allowed to develop, 'the 'consequenoes to the trade of this country will be very serious indeed. POSSIBLE PENALTIES. If, as seems almost certain, the engineers make good their decision to cease work, they will bo subject to penalties under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act for striking. Clause 6of the Act if as follows: ."Every person who incites, instigates, aids, or abets an unlawful Btriko or lock-out, or the continuance of any such strike or lock-out, or who incites, instigates, or assists any person to become a party to any eucn such strike or lock-out, is liable, if a worker, to a penalty not exceeding XlO, and .if an industrial union, in* dustrial association, trade union, employer, or any person other than a worker, to a 'penalty not exceeding : .£200." • This last act of the engineers may be held to be a strike by tho Courts. It is true that tho men. have the commonlaw right to cease to work under cmdi-' tions with which they are dissatisfied upon giving proper nbtice, but in a similar case, that of tho Merchant - Service Guild, the Court held that there had been concerted action. The same finding may be arrived at in this case, should it ever reach the Courts. Also tho striko, if it occurs, may be held to be an unlawful strike. Tho engineers are not at present working under any award, but prioto their act of striking they had already been cited as parties to an industrial ifisimte. : .