SHIPWRIGHTS' STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1885, 20 October 1913, Page 8

SHIPWRIGHTS' STRIKE.

4 —■■ SUDDEN MOVE. NO INCONVENIENCE LIKELY. Practically without warning members of the shipwrights' branch of tho Wellington Waterside Workers' Union went out. on strike on Saturday morning. Tho union—a small ono of 36 journeymen members—dccided to adopt this course bccauso tho employers had refused to grant certain demands for higher wagos, etc. Soino of the men havo been 30 years in tlio trade. At present the men receive Is. 6d. an hour ordinary time, Is. 10Jd. an hour overtime for tho first two hours, and 2s. 3d. an hour thereafter. The union's demand was for Is. Bd. per hour ordinary time, and ovcrtimo at tho rato of 2s. Bd. an hour till 10 p.m., and 2s. lOd. an hour afterwards. Tho employers olfored la. 7d. an hour ordinary time. 2s. an hour for tho first two hours, and 2s. 4Jd. an hour for overtime worked afterwards. In addition to the above demands tho union asked that the working week of 45J hours bo reduced by granting tho men ail hour for dinner instead of threequarters of ail hour as 'at present. Holidays also came into tho dispute. Nina holidays are observed in tho year, these including Anniversary Day, Labour Day, and Picnic Day. The employers wished to cut out the three holidays named. Among other demands by the union was one' for payment for timo occupied in going to and from work at tho Patent Slip and Miramar. The employers wished to make provision for nightshifts at ordinary rates of pay, but tho union refused to sanction this clause. This is the first occasion during 40 years on which tho shipwrights haye approached the employers. The Union Company employ about 12 men, S. Wood and Son about 18, and tho Wellington Harbour Board threo or four men. The strjko does not seem to have put tho employers to much inconvenience, and it is anticipated that other men will be easily found to do the work. In view of the wages paid at Auckland (viz., Is. 4Jd. an hour)- and Lvttelton (Is. Gd, an hour), the employers think that tlio •Wellington men havo been very well treated. The Shipwrights' Union is affiliated'to the Federation of Labour, and tho Waterside Workers' Union was not recognised in the dispute. '