THE WATERFRONT HOLD-UP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2992, 1 February 1917, Page 6

THE WATERFRONT HOLD-UP

WORK ON WHARVES PRACTICALLY SUSPENDED

ABOUT 1400 MEN AFFECTED

EMPLOYEE'S LATEST MOVE

There was only one topio of conversation on the waterfronf yesterday— the "lockout" that has taken place in connection with waterside Work on most of the steamers in port, caused by the men signifying their intention of not working to the methods prescribed by the employers. It is understood that the employers have so far assumed no arbitrary action. The labour foremen attended in the usual places to engage labour at 7.45 a.m. yesterday, the hour stipulated in the existing agreement, but there was no response. A crowd of men turned up at 8 o'clock, expecting work, but the hour had gone by—there was nothing doing. It is assumed that there is a ■majority of the workers mepared to accept work, for at the 3.30 p.m. call there were between 300 mid 400 mon at the stand, but no call was made on their services. The <-nly men at work were those who were working and continued to -work on Monday at one of the N.Z. Shipping Company's steamers, and the Edward Luckenbach, and a few engaecd to "lump" the cargoes of some of the mosnuito fleet, find somo colliers for the Mnori »tid Npatorn. Apart from the .colliers, me Union h.S. Company engaged no labour. Tho Maori arrived with 215 tons of cargo (including 1972 crates of chepso for transhinment), and departed for the south last evening with precisely the same cargo. Not a package (save luggage nnd nipils} was handled mwnrd or outward. The Mararoa .on Tuesday, lalso short-landed some 1300 crates of cheese. In the case of the Mnraroa the cargo was short-landed owing to her late arrivnl (11 a.niA and through the action of the men refusing to turn to after 5 p.m. No enrgo was worked on the Tarsuvern. yesterday, and if there are no further developments it does not look as if there will be any cargo lifted on or off the Riverina to-day.

An Open Door,

The employers, it is, understood, leave nn opp.n door for tlin men who wish to work under the existing acreßment. It, is not their desirp\ to "victimise anyone, and their labour foremen will he'at the stands nsmsual nt.Mo a.m. to-day, prepared to enotage men who will work honestly under the agreenient which has been in force for the past twelve months, and which, in lieu of a later one, still remains in force.

Labour Department Inauirv. The Labour Department made inquiries yesterday concerning the trouble, with a view, presumably, of satisfying tliemselves as to the real position. The "Waterside Workers' Union is registered under the Industrial Conciliation aud Arbitration Act, and "the existing agreement is registered under that Act, It will he remembered that the present union is actually tho one formed at the instance of the employers during the strike of 191.3, since which time the members of the old union have, joined up, and assumed command of its affairs. ' ■ The Men Affected. As showing how many men are affected by the trouble, 960' were engaged for work oa ships in .port last week, and most of these areliiow "resting." That, however, does not represent nearly the total number, as when the ships are not working, tho Harbour Board's "casuals" are shut out of work automatically. These are the men who handle the cargo from tho ship's sido to and in the sheds. v Altogether, it is calculated that some MOO men are affected by the trouble. The Harbour Board's permanent staff are also affected, as with no_ships loading or discharging, there is little or nothing to do for the tally-clerk staff. .Full staffs are »t present employed in the wool and fla-x sheds, where tho "dumps" are going merrily the long day through. I*l - The Men to Meet. The members of the • Wellington Waterside -Workers' Union arc to hold a general meeting in X Shed this evening. At tills meeting the delegates who attended the conference with the employers' representatives will present their report, and matters that have arisen since will doubtless he discussed. Resumption of Work Possible. In the course of tho federation's statement set out in this issue it is said': "The representatives of the men state definitely their wish to withdraw those claims (tho demands) altogether." It' is understood that they mean that as 110 sort of understanding was arrived at in respect to tho claims set out in brief j-esterday that they are now ; .p<*st discussion. Tho statement of the men's views was one issued by the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation, whioh organisation has taken tho present dispute out of the hands of the local union.

On Tuesday evening; the men declined to work after 5 p.m. Last evening, when certain men were wanted , *for overtime, there was quite a ready response, and work was continued on two deep-sea vessels up till 9.30 p.m. on one, andl 10 p.m. on another. In one of the cases tho cargo shipped was cheese for tho Imperial Supplies Department. It is surmised that there is a possibility of tho men turning to this morning at the 7.45 a.m. call on existing terms. ,