WATERSIDERS' STATEMENT

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

WATERSIDERS' STATEMENT

REPLY TO THE EMPLOYERS

CONSPIRACY ALLEGED

The following statement concerning the waterside dispute was made yesterday by officials of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation:— At the outset, the waterside workers are not at all satisfied with the arrangement of the recent conference made by the employers. The employers knew perfectly well that it would mean a great loss to the waterside workers' unions having delegates from the various ports, and they could have informed the secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation that they intended to put the case before she Arbitration' Court. The method they adopted caused great inconvenience and loss to the waterside workers by bringing them from all ports in New Zealand and then refusing to discuss in any way the tonus for a now agreement. Regarding the wntorfront in Wellington, the- officers of. the Wellington Union have made the following statement :— "The Black List." We are surprised indeed that at this stage in civilisation the employers are adopting such a proposal as the "black list," seeing that at the last conference they agreed thaft in future no'victimisation should take place along the waterfront of New Zealand, Wo re-

I gard their "black list" scheme as a conspiracy between the employers to injure tho waterside workers, and we would ask if the laws of this country permit of such a conspiracy being allowed to intimidate any section of the community. The 7.45 a.m. Start. Wo wish to point out that ovor five months ago the employers wero approached on tho question of amending the hours of engagement of labour. The employers, \bowever, refused to discuss the question, and the matter has since been more or less the oause of serious discontent jimongst the waterside workers. However, the men were at the labour stand at 8 a.m., the hour that, if men are engaged, their pay commences, and were willing to accept employment if the employers required labour. No hardship would be imposed on the employers or the men, as generally the employers put on a large number of men at 8 o'clock in the morning. The same applies at the midday call. The men wore in attendance, and '-cry few wore engaged, though there were a number of ships waiting to be discharged or loaded at the wharves. The Luokenbaoh Case. Regarding the Lu'ckenbacli, the employers made an attempt to reduce the rates of pay that the last agreement provides for in discharging oils. The men were quite within, their rights in asking the rates of pay provided for in the agreement. We hold that it was a distinct breach of agreement for the employers to discharge the men. It is as well to point out that this class of work cannot be accepted by all memhers of the union, as the fumes have a detrimental effect on the workers engaged in discharging benzine and motor spirit. ■ Therefore, a great number of the men will not accept employment at this class of work, as they claim it is injurious to their health. However, we can assure the agents of tho Luckenbach that there aro plenty of men available to discharge the steamer this morning, or future time, if they are required to do so. Dumping Cargo. In respect to the matter of dumping cargo, "we have to slate that it is not the first timn the men have refused to dump cargo. Whenever the men have considered that it was exceptionally dangerous to life and limb they have protested against dumping operations, either in nets or slmgs. AVe ask the public if the waterside workers aro not justified in keeping to that, axiom that the preservation of life and limb is the first law of life and nature. Does tho public of Wellington know what dumping operations means? Tho waterside workers have always been the people who are blamed for the smashing of cargoes on the waterfront. . Dumping menus ftiat all classes of cargo and material, from a- candlebox to a piano, and from a box of raisins to a 15cwt. case, aro being hoisted together in one big net. The result is that tbe weaker or fragile packages aro smashed. We,have often seen clothes pegs, pig-iron, and.otTier honvy and weak packages hoisted together in very heavy lifts, and -the least mishap occurring there is .every possibility that'one of the workers down in' the hold will meet with an accident. , It can be safely said that numerous accidents on the waterfront . at Wellington have- been due to dumping operations. From the point of ■ view-of public health dumping should bo, immediately stopped. All classes of cargo, including flour, sugar, nia- ' wire, cement, lime, raisins, fruit are dumped on tho dirty wharves of the waterfront. Again, during dumping operations a numbor of packages get smashed in the hold, leaving an amount of material in tlw square of, the hatch. When clean cargo is being taken in in the same vessels foodstuffs come in contact with all objectionable kinds of cargoes.

Overloading of nets with frozen meal; ■when it is being loaded into Homogoing vessels lias been the cause of so many serious accidents that tho workers are compelled in tlie interests of safety not to load nets so heavily as formerly. Only yesterday a worker escaped accident by a vow narrow margin through a sheep falling out of a meat bag through overloading.

Handling Imperial Meat. An effort has been made by the employers to establish a case that the waterside workers were refusing to load meat and other produce commandeered by the Imperial Government. In reply to the statement wo have to state that the representatives of tho waterside workers are willing to meet tho representatives of the Imperial authorities, and we are sure tliat we can arrive at an agreement that will ensure the quick dispatch of these ships. Claims for Increases. • Regarding the waterside workers' claims for increased wages and improved working conditions, as published in the Press this morning (the Federation officials continued) the representatives of the men state definitely they wish to withdraw those claims altogether. The claims were forwarded to.the employers on tho understanding that it was entirely confidential matter, and further, at the opening of the conference with the employers, a resolution was unanimously adopted stating that any matter connected with, or arising out of the conference, would not be for publication without the consent of both parties. The waterside workers have given no authority for the publication of their claims. Therefore, we regard the action of tho employers as a breach of faith. However, we would point out that~FT)c claims for wages are much below those demanded by the Sydney and Hobart Waterside Workers' Unions. The rates claimed by the Sydney Union are 2s. 6d. an hour ordinary timo and 3s. 9d. an hour overtime. The rates claimed by the. Hobart waterside workers are 25..9 d. an hour ordinary time and 3s. 9d. overtime. Wo think, then, that our proposals are, to say tTie least, moderate'when we compare them with Sydney and Hobart. • <

In conclusion, we would ask the shipping companies to submit their increased rates and freights sincp the commencement of tho war, and also tboir increased profits during that period, alongside our claims for increased improved working, conditions for the consideration of , tho Wellington oublie. Wo'' will then leavp it to tlie public to judge whether our claims arc justified or otherwise.