A FOOLISH STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 157, 22 March 1918, Page 4

A FOOLISH STRIKE

No one can read the report of the interview which took place yesterday between the representatives of the Otira Tunnel strikers and tho Minister of Public Works without being struck by the petty nature of the pretext on which these workmen have resorted to ths costly and wasteful weapon of the strike. The facts are simple enough. A boy nineteen years of age was engaged for certain work in the lamp room at 7s. Bd. a day—good pay it would seem for a boy of his years. In addition, it was expected of himto relieve at times with certain stoking work. He;-., objected to the stoking work, which had been done by his predecessor who happened, to be- his brother, on the ground that he was not strong enough for such work. Tho local inspector of machinery says the work is only boys' work, and other boys have done it. As he refused to do tho work this boy was dismissed, and the whole of the men engaged on the Otira Tunnel work went on strike. • They 'have .'now been on strike since March _4; work on this important undertaking is held up, the men have lost the wages they would havo earned, and they and their families are so much the poorer off. It is a foolish business. In effect, the union demands that it, and not the Government, shall decide- who shall bo employed and tho work each man or boy shall do. This is, of course, ridiculous and, intolerable, as was very properly pointed out by Sm William I'RASEn. The Department wants a boy for certain work which other boys have done, in tho past, and tho boy engaged says ho is'not capable of doing tho work. What other course is open to tho Department than to find someone else who is able to do the work required of him? This is what has been done. That a union grievance should have been made out of such a situation and a strike promoted, in which the chief sufferers can only be the strikers, must appear to all sane trades unionists, as well as to the public generally, as a wanton and stupid piece of unreasonableness and blundering for which it is'impossible to find the slightest justification.