NEW UNION 1930 STRONG.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1926, 8 December 1913, Page 8

NEW UNION 1930 STRONG.

, / — EMPLOYERS CURT REPLY TO MR. HUGHESWaterside Workers, when they broke their agreement, were being paid Is. sd. an hour ordinary time, 2s. 2d. an hour overtime up to 10 p.m.; 2s. 3d. per hour overtime 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. For special work special rates of pay were provided, coal carriers, the highest paid, receiving 2s. an hour ordinary time, 3s. an hour overtime. Friday, October 17.—Shipwrights asked for increase in wages. Satan day, October 18.—Shipwrights ceased work. Monday, October 20.—First mass meeting Waterside Workers' Union, at which it was decided to call a "stop-work" meeting, to be held at 8' a.m. on Wednesday, October 72. Wednesday, October 22.—"Stop-work" meeting of Waterside .Workers' Union held on wharf. While men • were attending meeting, which, being held in working hours, was a breach of agreement, other union men wero put on to work in their places. Union desired tnas "stop-work" men be reinstated in their positions, and absolutely refused to work unless all of the men formerly employed at the various jobs wore reinstated. Employers de cided that men's action in. Knocking off work and refusing to go back in breach of agreement terminated tho agreement with the union, which had been entered into in 1912. Waterside Workers' Union hand control of strike over to the Federation of Labour. Waterside Workers' Union strikes. Thursday, October 23.—Big mass meeting of strikers. Wharves picketed. Union S.S. Company pays crews off colliers. Free labourers commence work, Negotiations between strike delegates and employers fail. " ' ' ' Friday, October 24.—Scenes of violence on tho wharves, Conference of Federation of Labour delegates proves' abortive. Employers decide to cease work as far as handling cargo is concerned. Fifty police guard the wharves. Warehouse clerks work cargo in small steamers. Saturday, October 25.—Further scenes of violenco on wharves. Steamers Defender and Nikau rushad—crsws intimidated. Police from country arrive. Employers issue a statement to the effect that no watersiders will be employed until a fresh organisation be formed and registered under Arbitration Act. Sunday, at 2.15 p.m. in Post Office . ' Square. Procession to Basin Reserve, Gate, broken down by crowd. Inflammatory speeches by strike leaders. Tuesday, October 28.—Conference between employers and employee#, with Hon. W. F. Massoy, Prime Minister, as chairman. Mora police arrive. S.S. Nikau rushed. All steamers move to an anchorage in the stream. Racehorses allowe dto leave for south. Wednesday, October 25.—Employers' proposals from previous evenIng's conference submitted to the watorsiders, and rejected. Raid made on flour and other provisions being sent to Day's Bay by Cobar. Goods ' subsequently allowed to be shipped. Further violent speeches by agitators in tho Post Office Squaro. Encounter at night between suspected frea labourers and strikes at Waterloo Quay. Auckland and Westport watersiders strike. Thursday, October 30.—Strikers assault special constables, Waterloo Quay fence broken down and horses liberated. Men of H.M.S. Psyche on parade. Psyche's stores landed from Ulimaroa by bluejackets. Mounted constables parade streets and charge strikers in Post Office Snuare. Three hundred special constables sworn in. Onset on Messrs. iWhitcombe and Tombs' shop; constable severely wounded. Prime Minister states the Government's position. Lyttelton watersiders strike. Saturday, November 1. —Quiet day. Employers enlarge their strike Tommitteo. Large bodies of specials arrivo from the country. Skirmishes with strikers in towh. v Wahine's crew give notino to strike, Oamaru watersiders join strike. Sunday, November 2.—Deputation from combined Labour bodies to Prime Minister with proposals for settlement. Ma3s meetings at Newtown Park' and Opera House. Further contingents of special constables arrive, Wahine laid up in stream. Greymouth Union come out on strike. Monday, November 3.—Wahine's men come ashore. Wellington branch of' Seamen's Union decide to strike, if free labour Is employed. Negotiations between employers and workers entered upon and adjourned till following day. MapouriJca enters ferry service to rcplacc Wahine. . Government steamer's held in readiness for mails, .Serious riot in Taranaki Street, spocial oonstables being attacked by mob. Several nersons injured—three seriously. Revolvers used. Mob indulses in window-breaking and other damage Tuesday, November 4,—Negotiations for settlement broken off on employers stipulating on union registering under Arbitration Act. Employers refuse Harbour Board's invitation to meet workers in conference. Mass meeting of strikers at Newtown Park. Hincmoa's crew give notice. " Two special constables severely handled in Tory Street. .Attempt to block cartage of straw to barracks. Mayor closes seven hotels in evening. 'Royal Tiger Hotel besieged. Two men arrested. Wednesday, November s.—Racehorses for New Zealand Cup Meeting shipped on Maunganui for Lyttelton by free labour. Mounted special constables guarding tho wharf stoned by'crowd. Eight arrests made, and about thirty persons wounded In the molce, Thursday, November 6.—Mew Wharf Labourers' Union registered. Members commence work loading tho Athenic at Glasgow Wharf. Wharf approaches guarded by mounted and foot "specials." Fine display t "law and order" troops, who were cheered through tho city. City "specials" paraded for first time—make a gallant show. Stone-throwing , ceases. A quiet night. : Friday, November 7.— S.S. Athenic, Willochra, and Moana worked by Arbitrationists. Moana's crew leaves ship, and Willochra's deside ■ to follow. Union Company's permanent hands join strike. Wharves ' guarded by special constables. Saturday, November B.—General strike in Auckland, special con- ' stables take possession of waterfroht. Waterside Federation invites new Wellington Union to affiliate. P. J. Hassett arrested on charge of attempting to murder Commissioner C ullen. Wellington seamen decide io come out. ' Sunday, November 9—General strike called in Wellington. Mass meeting in Opera House. Monday, November 10.—Drivers' Union decides to join the strike. Goods carted from v/harf to warehouses under escort. Seven thousand out of work in Auckland. Work increasing at wharves. Tuesday, November 11.—Four strike leaders, Messrs. Semple, Holland, Fraser, and Bailey arrested. Members of Drivers' Union stop work. More steamers worked at wharves. Wednesday, November 12.— W. T. Young, Secretary Wellington Seamen's Union, arrested. T. Barker, organiser for 1.W.W., arrested at Auckland. All strike leaders under arrest remanded for a week. Oversea and coastal steamers worked i n Wellington. Goods carted from • wharves without escort. Thursday, November 13.—Building Trades' Labourers' Union joins •strike. New Arbitration Act Drivers' Union formed. Nine steamers " worked at wharves. Friday, November 14.—Seventeen vessels working cargo, and five coaling. New Drivers' Union reg istered. Unltod Labour Party declares against the striko. Saturday, November 15. Trade with Wanganui and Patea resumed. Maori takes up ferry service again. More unions refuse to strike, Sunday, November 16.—Tramway men decide to remain under Arbitration Act. Mass meetings of strikers. Monday, November 17.—Twenty steamers worked at wharves. Arbitration Wharf Labourers' Union totals 750 men. Special constable assaulted in city hotel. Tuesday, November 18.—Athenic, sails for London fully laden. ■Seventeen vessels worked by tho 850 man now on the Arbitration Union roll. Rushes on wharves at Lyttel ton and Dunedin. Permanent men forced to como out at Lyttelton. Two special constables chased up Cuba Street. Wednesday, November 19.—Disorder in Post Office Square and Taranaki Street. Carter attacked on Ohiro Road. Several arrests effected. Mayor closes all City hotels. Twenty-four boats working at wharves. More violence at Lyttolton, Thursday, November 20.—' Twenty-five vessels worked at wharves, and coal cargoes discharged for first time. Dissension reported among strikers. Arbitration'-Union totals over. 1000 members. Cargoes being worked at Lyttelton. Friday, November 21.—Work proceeding actively on waterfront. Over EDO men engaged. Hotel bars closed until November 25. Court proceedings. Lyttelton ferry steamers tako cargo. Saturday, November.'22.—Christchurch carters called out. Coal and cargo worked on waterfront by nearly 1000 men, Hannah's boot factory closed down. A quiet day. Monday, November 24.—One thousand men working on Wellington wharves. Thirty members of old Drivers' Union join new union, and return to work. Auckland general striko declared off. J. P. Hassett committed, for trial on charge of attempted murder of Commissioner Cullen. Tuesday, November 25. New Waterside Union totals 1350 members. Sugar shortage relieved by unloading of cargo of 40,000 bags from Auckland. Wednesday, November 26.—Maunganui's crew joins strike, but is replaced. Prime Minister's scheme for improving watersido conditions discussed by Harbour Board. New union totals 1450. New Zealand shipping held up in Sydney. Thursday, November 27.—Twenty-seven stokehold hands on R.M.S, Corinthic arrested for refusing duty New union totals 1520. Friday, November 29.—Strike leaders in Court. P. Fraser and G. Bailey plead guilty, and to bo released on sureties, others remanded. Corinthic's firemen convicted and discharged on returning to ship. Fifty seamen from Maunganui charged with desertion and remanded. Saturday, November 29.—Six members of Dunedin Strike Committeo arrested on charge of intimidation. Two rioters sentenced by Chief ■ justice. Ulimaroa and Aorangi delayed in Sydney,' Monday', December I,—Opawa returned to port as 14firemen refused duty, Dunedin strike leaders released on sureties. Sydney Union decides to boycott oversea vessels with New Zealand cargo. Tuesday, December 2.—New Watersido Union membership totals 1750. Sydney unionists decitlo to boycott New Zealand cargoes only. Fourteen firemen from Opawa committed for trial. VVednesday, December 3.—Sydney unionists cable appealing for arbitration- Emp'oyers' Defence Committee reply refusing. Sydney watersiders boycott all Union Company boats, Thursday, December 4.—Striko leaders in Court. W. T. Young sentenced to three months' imprisonment- for inciting resistance to tha police; but to be released on bail, pending an appeal. Charge againsl (r). Holland dismissed,

Good progress reports continuo to arrive from various parts of the Dominion, all the ports working steadily. Advice has" been received that tho Mamiganui lias sailed from Sydney for Wellington, and some 32 vessels are to work locally tn-day. Tim membership roll of the new union has grown to 1930. A brief but pointed reply has been forwarded by the Employers' Dcfciico Committee to the latest uppeal from Mr. Hughes. Tho lircmen oil the Km Ora threateuod to give .trouble on Saturday, and rushed tho steamer's gangway in an attempt to get ashoro after leave bad been stopped, but they wero prevented bv tlio ]>olice. and tho ship's officers, and tho vossel subsequently set out on her voyage to London.