SHIPWRIGHTS' STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 22 October 1913, Page 8

SHIPWRIGHTS' STRIKE.

- TROUBLE AT WHARF. BELLICOSE WATERSIDERS. "STOP-WORK" PROPOSAL. Since tho Wellington branch of the Waterside Workers' Union interested themselves in the shipwrights' strike matters have taken a somewhat troublesomo turn. Without any warning to employers it lias been decided that a special "stop-work" meeting of all members of tlio Wellington Watersido Workers' Union twill bo Jiekl at 8 a.m v to-day. Tho business is stated to bo as follows: — To consider shipwrights' grievances and claims; also travelling time for slip workers at Evans Bay ; and take such action as may be doemc-d necessary. Holding the meeting at tho hour mentioned will probably causo - serious inconvenience to shipping. V/ill Fidelity Clause be Broken? If tho Wellington Watersido Workers' Union suspend work they will practically break an existing agreement with employers. Clause 22 of tho agreement- reads as follows: — "The essence of this agreement being that tho work of the employers shall always proceed in tho customary maimer, and shall not on any account whatsover be impeded, it is agreed that if any disputo or difference shall arise between tho parties bound by this agreement, or any of them, whether as to its construction of meaning, or as to any i other matter whatever arising out of, or connected therewith, every such dispute or difference, as' the same shall arise, shall bo referred to a committee to be composed of three representatives of tlio union at the port concerned and three representatives of tho employers for their decision. Tho decision of tho majority of tlio committee shall bo binding, and ii' no decision is arrivecL at, the committco shall submit tho point in disputo to some independent person to be chosen by it, and if his decision is not acceptable to both parties, then the matter shall bo referred for further negotiation to tlio • New Zealand Federation of Labour and the oniployer or employers concerned." The agreement from which the above quotation is taken continues in forco until January 1, 1914. As tho Watersido Workers' Union do not seem to be inclined to comply with the above clause, and thereby givo the employers a chanco to appoint a committee to confer with them, developments are expected to*day. "Stood This Thing Long Enough." ' This is not tho first timo that the union has adopted this method of doing ■ business, and from inquiries mado yes- ' terday it appears that tlio employers ■ aro beginning to realise that thoy havo 1 stood this kind of thing long enough. 1 Ono business man voiced tho opinion 1 that the moro unions affiliated 1 t.o the Federation of Labour get 1 the more they want. From an- < other source it was. learned tlmt if ; tho meeting is held this morning, and : work is held up on tho wharves tho 1 agreement- will be non est, and the cm- > ployers will consider the advisability of eancclling it right away. Who Is Fomenting it? ' It has been freely mentioned of Into . that there is trouble ahead on the , waterfront, and that all these suspensions . of work and petty troubles -havo not been made for nothing. It has, in fact, I been stated that tlio Federation of La- , bour, through its affiliated unions, has , been endeavouring to ascertain how far , it could go with tho employers. I Several of the watersido workers told ; a reporter yesterday that they did not , want a strike at the present time. These ; men were not in favour of knocking off work this morning, and they blamed , their executive. A well-known ship- . ping man, when seen yesterday, said t that he had information to the effect 3 that when tho present agreement ex- . pircs on January 1 the watersiderf! will j ask for all increase in wages from Is. 5 3d., to Is. Bd. an hour. '"Therefore," j ho concluded, "those men do not want 1 a strike just now. It is tlio slack season, and they want all the money thoy - can get. January will bo tho busy ; time, and the men know that a strike 3 at that period of the year would not- . suit tho eniployers, and that thoy would i havo a better chanco of gaining their s demands." a , Mr. R. Fletcher on the Position. 3 When seen by a. reporter last, evening, Mr. R. Fletcher, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, said that, as far as tho Harbour Board was concenied, tho position was that if, after formally applying to tho union to carry out tho board's work, there is no responso this morning, then tho wharfinger will have to employ whatever labour is available. There is no other if way open to tho board, because, when e- tiie trouble occurred over the Devon's 0 cargo, it was decided to take this course i- should subsequent events render it ind ovitable. i- "With the merits or' demerits of the shipwrights' dispute," added > -Mr. t Fletcher, "tho board has nothing to d do. If there is any serious iriconvenio enco to the public, thenjfcho onus will ° not.be on the board, but on the Watersido Workers' Union officials and tho I- men who are led by them. In my peri- sonal opinion tho whole trouble is due 1- to irresponsible and tactless leaders." 'S During the course of his remarks Mr. '• Fletcher made thj observation that "it '• seems futilo to hope for any assurance '• from the moil tliat thoy will carry out their obligations and promises." It may be added that if this mornlf ing's mooting is held in the waitings room the union will havo broken its obligation to the board. Tlio room was given to tho Waterside Workers' Union ■■ o.i tho understanding that it was only " to bo used for meetings outside hours of engagements.