WAR AT THE WATERSIDE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1887, 23 October 1913, Page 8

WAR AT THE WATERSIDE.

MEN DECIDE TO STOP.

RESOLUTE ATTITUDE BY EMPLOYERS,

FREE LABOUR CALLED.

THE JOINT AGREEMENT TO TERMINATE.

the hands of the Federation of ; Labour, with the necessary officials 1 of tlio shipwrights and the president of the Waterside Workers' Union, with a vie.v to a settlement of the disi pute." | ( Tho motion was carried. "To Reduce the Labour Output 50 per ■ cent." Mr. Stapleton drew attention to certain statements which have been published to the effect that tho men have been misled by their executive officers, and lie moved: —"That we havo the fullest confidence in our executive and officials.',' Before the meeting adjourned a sug- , gestion was made that the meeting take direct action, and pledge itself to reduce the output of labour by 50 per ; cent. The president would not accept the motion, pointing out that it was contrary to -the rulos governing strikes. "OUT OF CONTROL." EXCUSE FOR BREACH OF FAITH. After yesterday morning'sstopi work " meeting, and the trouble about the reshuffling of jobs, Masses. F. Curtico, G. G. Farland, and G. Bruce, the executive of the Waterside Workers' Union, called on Mr. W. A. Kennedy, Iccal manager of the Union Company. The executive pointed out to Mr. Kennedy tho position which had arisen. It was urged that the men should have been reinstated on the ships on which they had been working on Tuesday. U. S.S. Co. and tho Leaders. Mr. Kennedy replied to the effect that the men terminated their engagements when they did not turn to at 8 a.m. yesterday morning. Tho employers were then at liberty to engage any men whom they thought fit to fill the "stopworkers' " positions. T'ho executive's reply was to the effect that unless the demand of the men to ho reinstated was agreed to work would cease. '\Employers Exasperated." Mr. Kennedy' then pointed out' that sucli action on tho part of the men after 1 p.m. 'would greatly influence the decision that the employers would come to when they met at 3.30 p.m. " The employers," added Mr.' Kennedy, "aro already now thoroughly exasperated by tho ,gross and flagrant breach of the agreement that has been made. Tlio agreement arrived at during January* 1912, between the Waterside Workers' Union and the employers." It is understood that, during the above interview, that the executive admitted "that they had mn.de a -mistake in calling a "stop-work" meeting at the hour they did, and also that their action was quite unconstitutional. It was further admitted that the men had got beyond control of their own executive BIG MEETINC. MEN'S DECISION TO STRIKE. Another mass meeting, at which fully 1600 men attended, was held in' tho waiting-room at 1 p.m. yesterday. On tho recommendation of the president, Mr. F. Curtice, it was decided to admit the Press. "Nothing to Hide." Mr. Curtice explained that the Press had been admitted for the purpose of showing the public that tho waterside workers hid nothing to hide. Continuing, the president said that yesterday morning a "stop-work" meeting had been called by a resolution which had been passed at a meeting held 011 Tuesday. The speaker explained the various happenings which had taken place during the morning, viz., changing men from one job to another, and also tho result of the executive's visit to Mr. W. A. Kennedy. Mr." Curtice said that Mr. Kennedy had told tho executivo that the local committee had had nothing to do with tho dispute. There was no doubt that that statement was right, for the disputo had gone past tho local committee, and was m the hands of tho shipping companies. The executive had asked Mr. Kennedy if he would reinstate tho men who had been shifted, and tho manager of the Union Company had replied, at that time, he could not say whether tlioy would bo reinstated. A meeting of shipowners was to bo hold at 3.30 p.m., when the matter would be decided. "What was the position?" said Mr. Curtice. "I tell you that you are out 011 strike. As a responsible officer, I tell you that when you do go back to work you will be out on strike, and it is notliing else but a strike. By coming out this afternoon you have broken .your agreement from A to Z. What are you going to do?" Voices: "Fight it out I" and "Good onought, tool" The speaker proceeded to urge the men to treat the labour foreman with respect when ho came into the room. I. If they did; not want work they need | not turn up. This statement brought cries of, "The striko isn't on," and, from another quarter, "The strike is on." Continuing, Mr. Curtice said 1 that Mr. Kennedy had been informed that if the men were reinstated there would be 110 trouble. "Victimisation." Mr. R. J. Seal, aru ex-member of tho executive, said that when tho men on tho Rimutaka, who had been selected to fill, the places of the other mon, had been asked not to talto tho work, thoy lwd decided not to do' so. Tho same ' thing had happened on tho Wairuna. Ho said that victimisation' had taken place, and he moved: —"That if tho men on tho W'ahine, Rimutaka, Wairuna, and Northern arc not reinstated, the men do not start work to-morrow (Thursday)." After tho motion had been, declared seconded, a general discussion followed. Mr. Farland and What He Said. Mr. G. G. Farland, secretary, held the opinion that there was a good chance of settling the troublo as a, result of the employers' meoting at 3.30 p.m. Tho reason why the watersido workers' meeting had been called at 1 o'clock was because the executive had no power to call a strike. "It looks as though we are outon strike, though." he added. "No man should bo afraid to express his opinions to-day, hut. personally, I hope that if it is a striko it won't last long. I believa there ara

'After months of unrest the Wellington waterside workers have gone out on striko, and the agreement between that body and the Shipowners' Federation,, which came into force, on February 1, 1912, has been cancelled. The ■Harbour Board and other employees have now apparently decided on a stiff front. It,will, no doubt bo remembered that in January, 1912, representatives of the steamship companies of New Zealand met tho waterside representatives, and after long deliberation gave a marked increase in .wages.' Another marked increase in wages to seamen followed. How much .these increases amounted 10 or how fat- thoy wero "passed on" to tho public has never . been made known. . Atthetime of the agreement with tho watersiders the chief crumb of comfort to the general public was a adolity clause that would prevent work at • the wharves from being held.up as long as tho agreement lasted. Since then, however, tho watersiders do not seem to' havo been unduly troubled by tho fidelity clause, tho salvaging demands for tho Devon being one;case in point. The "Stop-Work" Proposal. The peg on which tho Wellington watersiders chose to hang the present trouble was the striko of the Ship- • wrights' Union, which is, affiliated to tho '.Wellington Branch of the Water- , . The shipwrights' striko occurred on Saturday last. The executive of tho Waterside Union at once took up the cudgels on behalf of the shipwrights, and called a ."stopwork" meeting yesterday. The purposes for which this meeting was convened was:—(l) To consider shipwrights'; grievances and' claims; (2) travelling time for slip workers, at Evans Bayj- (3) to take Such action as might bo deemed necessary. Employers' Counter-stroke. This meeting was held yesterday morning at 8 o'clock,'and, meantime, work was stopped on the wharves. At ' the conclusion of the morning meeting (about 10 o'clock) tho men dispersed to go to .tho ships on which they had been engaged to work cargo on Tuesday. When, they reached their vessMs, however,'they found that their places had been filled by others. There had been a reshuffling- of jobs, and, although; union men were taken on by the ships, it was contended by employers that, by not turning to at 8 a.m. yesterday, tho men Who .had been working on the Rimutaka, .'-Northern,. Wairuna'on Tuesday had' broken their engagements. It was therefore considered that they could be drafted to other vessels if they desired employment. " The Situation Thlokens. . This action on the part of the employers apparently did not pleaso the - men. Mr. G. G. Farland, secretary of the union ; ' on learning what had happened, said to a reporter:— "You can tell the public that this js the way shipowners can force a strike. It is sheer pin-pricking and nothing else." For an hour or two the watersiders had leisure, to consider how tho new situation, thus created, could, ■bo mot. Ultimately a mass meeting . was summoned for 1 p.m., and the following resolution was carried:— ."That no Work shall be accepted until such time as all the men are reinstated." _ At .130 p.m. the Shipowners' Federation niet to consider the situation. The "meeting was fully representative, and, iif terms of a resolution, it was unanimously decided not to reinstate the men. and also that the agreement be'terminated. This resolution was conveyed to the secretary' of t'ho Wellington Waterside Workers' Union, and to many of tho men it came as a bomb. The watersido executive decided to meet lost evening, and this meeting appointed a strike committee. A mass meeting cf the union will bo held this morning. Free Labour Now. The position now is that free labour will be employed on Wellington wharves from to-day, and any man seeking employment will bo taken 011. " I STOP-WORK MEETINC. THE FEDERATION CALLED IN. About 1000 men wero present at tho stop-work" meeting,.winch was'held, in the waiting-room at 8 a.m. yesterday. Mr. F. Curtice, president of tho Wellington Watersido Union, wa3 in the chair.. The shipwrights' representatives were invited to state their grievances, end Mr. Langdui, secretary of the (shipwrights' branch of the Watersido Workers' Union, gavo a history of the trouble. He stated that'the beginning of the present state of alfhirs was that the men of his union ' had been • stopped for their time for travelling to and from the Patent Slip. A conference had;been held with tho Union Co., and the latter had definitely declined to continuo paying for travelling time— a practice which had been in vogue for over forty years. Further, tho com-^• pany 'refused to recognise tho ship' wrights as a union. It had then been decided to join the Watersido Workers' Union. The manager of'the .Union Company had, however, absolutely refused to recogniso tho shipwrights as a branch .of the Waterside Workers' Union. Ho would, ho said, be_ prepared to receive them as shipwrights, but not -as. connected with tho watersiders. Two conferences wero held, tho sole result of which was an increase in wages of Id. per hour. The counteragreement by tho employers was entirely unacceptable to the shipwrights, ' ar.d they had no alternative but to como out. ... An old member of the Shipwrights' • Union then addressed the meeting. Ho stated that the combination of employers against tho men had forced the shipwrights'" hands. Tho speaker blamed the employers for breaking their arrangements with the shipwrights. Federation Butts In. Mr. P.- H. Hickey, secretary and treasurer of tho Federation of Labour, ivas the next speaker. Ho explained that he'was present at tho invitation , of some of the officials of tho union. Ho suggested that tho whole matter dealing with the shipwrights should bo handed over to tho Federation of Labour. .If this course were adopted he believed that an, agreement to meet the enso 'of tho shipwrights could bo arrived at. Subsequently Mr. A. Lindsay moved; — "That this depute be jjut ii

hotter ways of Bottling disputes than by striking. If tlio sliipt owners say at 3.30 that tho trouble is going on, then we are right .into it." Men Urged to " Cot Into It." Several other speakers voiced their views, the genoral touo being that tho men could win if they struck work, and thoy were urged to "get into it:" j Rca(, y said that it was reported that t'ho men had been led by leaders. Ho did not pose as a leader, and it would be a sorry day when the men were led by him. Continuing tiie speaker said that lie did not like trou- , bio, but the present upheaval had been forced 011 them. Personally, he thought that tho whole trouble would bo settled at 3.30 p.m. Disorder. Much disorder was occasioned by remarks passed by Mr. Peter Maroney, who said: " My principle is if you make an agreement with men you must keep it. If these men like to go back liko men' I will go with them." (Cries of "Put him down.") What had tho men done this morning? Struck! Was that keeping the agreement?" The motion, on being put to the meeting, was declared by the chairman to lmvo been carried, " without one dissenting voice." j SHIPOWNERS MEET. THE AGREEMENT TERMINATED. A fully representative meeting of shipowners was hold yesterday afternoon. Tho meeting was not open to tho Press. At its conclusion, Mr. AV. A. Kennedy,, chairman, handed a copy of the following letter, which has been forwarded to Mr. G. G. Farland "At A thoroughly representative meeting of employers held this afternoon, the following resolution was passed: 'That this meeting of employers, who were parties to the agreement with the waterside workers, dated January 17, 1912, regard tho refusal of the members of the union to commence work at tho usual hour this (Wednesday) morning as a flagrant breach of Clause 28 of the contract existing between the employers and tho union, and that the meeting inform the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union to that effect, and also that thoy regard the agreement as terminated." It w,is stated that the above resolution was carried unanimously. Clause- Which Caused Trouble. Clause 28 of the agreement existing between the Waterside Workers' Union and the employers, reads as follows:— "Tho essence of this agreement being that the work of the employers shall always proceed in ' the customary manner, and shall not on any account whatsoever be impeded, it is agreed that if any dispute or difference shall arise between tho parties bound by this agreement, or any of them, whether as to its construction or meaning, or as to any other matter whatever arising out of, or connected therewith, every such dispute or difference, as the same shall arise, shall be referred to a committee to be composed of threo representatives of tho union at'tho port concerned and threo representatives of the employers for their decision. The decision' of the majority of tho committee shall he binding, and if no decision is arrived at, the committee shall submit the point in dispute to some independent person to be chosen by it, anil if his decision is not acceptable to both parties, then the matter shall be referred for further negotiation to the New Zealand Federation of Labour and tho employer or employers concerned." FACINC THE TROUBLE. WATERSIDE EXECUTIVE MEET. A meeting of tho executive of the Wellington Branch of the Watersido Workers' Union was held last evening. - Seen at the close of tho moeting, Mr. < F. Curtice, president, stated that he did not wish to make a statement at present. The meeting had been held for the purpose of discussing details in connection with tho strike, and, also for tho purpose of appointing .a strike committee. A mass meeting of of tho union is to be held at 7.30 a.m." tc-day. 111 answer to , a question regarding striko pay, Mr. Curtice said that nothing in'that direction had been deeidod so far. Asked if the union will have pickets out to-day, .Mr. Curtice replied that that question would be decided at the meeting which is to be held this morning. SIGNIFICANT RUMOUR. THE IDEA OF A NEW T7NION. At tho conolusion of yesterday afternoon's meeting, a reporter / spoko to several waterside workers. Ono man. an old member of the union, stated ' emphatically that the men had done tho wrong thing by going out. "Wo ! should," he stated, "have gono to work ' as usual this morning. It was wrong for the executivo to hold : that "stopwork" meeting at the hour appointed. I contend that 1 wo should not have stopped work, 1 and a great number of my mates are of tho same opinion." If ] the executive wanted to hold a meeting, why did tliey not do so in our own time, and not that of tho employers'? You can take it from mo, there will bo troublo -in our union over this decision to strike.' The resolution which was passed Icalling .for the "stop-work" meeting was not carried at a full meeting of tho union. It was carried at a meting of about 200 .members." "We'll Pull Out on Our Own." Another old unionist said: "We did not want a strike, particularly at this ' timo of the year. For months past 1 many of us have not made more than 1 thirty 'bob' or two pounds a week,'and J wo haven't got much money. Now the ! busy season is approaching,. we were ( expecting to mako £4 or £5 a week, I and wo wero looking forward to a good season, too. Whnt will be trie result of this strike? Why, it will mean that some of us at least will be out of work. , Who will buy food and clothing for our 1 wives and children? This strike has t been engineered, but for what purpose { Ido not know. What I do know is t this—that a .largo number of us will , pull out on our own, and form another c union. We wero quite content to work D under the agreement." £ Wo had one of the best jobs under the sun, and the money wo mado in the a summer seasons helped to keep ns over r the winter." y "We're a Pack of Fools." . ® Tho reporter saw a little company t of men earnestly discussing the situa- ' tioiii on the wharf late yesterday after- 1> noon. When he approached tho group, t one rtan said, "Look hero, old chap, ! I think that we aro a pack of fools, t Wo were doing good under tho agree— s ment, and we got our owfi terms. i Now wo will _ havo to go back trt work 1: under conditions which will suit the I: bosses. It serves ns right. I know 11 this: Wo won't got an agreement like v tho one wo have broken next time." 11 t Form a New Union. i Another member of tho group said, ' "Us fellows who were not 111, favour of tho strike, stop work meeting, or anything else connected with tho troublo g will havo to pull out of tho present i> union and form ono on our own, like c they did at Timnru. That is tho only h way to settle this kind of business." A j; chorus of "Hear, hears'' greeted thou speaker's remarks. it