LABOUR TROUBLE ON THE WHARVES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 207, 27 May 1920, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLE ON THE WHARVES

SHIPOWNERS TAKE ACTION

FOR ALLEGED BREACH OF

AGREEMENT

The question of "dirt money" for the handling coal from Port Kembla caused s deadlook on the wharves between the coal workers and tho shipowners yesterday, when the latter, as the result of a meeting held the previous afternoon oamed out tho decision of the meeting not to engago any mofo labour to discharge the ships until such tim* as a satisfactory settlement of the dispute between the gang engaged to shift coal from the hold to the bunkers of the C. and D. liner Port Nicholson and the owners is arrived at. The trouble has been occasioned by this gang having declined to handlo the coal, which they allege is' dusty, until they were paid "dirt money." They refused to refer tho matter to the Disputes Committee. nnd it is for this reason, which is held to be a breach of the agreement, that the owners decided to take action. The trouble affects all shipnimr companies, and tho consequence yesterday was that all vessels which eamo in during the dav were not discharged. Those for which labour had been engaged on the previous day wore worked, and the prospects are that unless 60me settlement is arrived at no work will be done to-dfiy. Several vessels left ■ yesterday with the cargoes still aboard, including the Kaitoa. which had a shipment of fruit from Nelson, and the Pnteena, which is axpeoted buck from Picton at G o'clock tonight. The Wahine was not discharged, and did not sail for Lvttelton in the evening, the Monowai, which was booked for Lvttelton and Dunedin, taking her passengers and mails. Tho Maori left Lvttelton as usual last night, and she arid the Mokoia are expected from there tips morning. The president of the Waterside Workers' Union (Mr. L. Glover) stated yesterdav that the dispute respecting Port Kembla coal was not a new one, but had been befoTe tho National Disputes Committee. It had also been mentioned at the agreemont conference when an adjustment was asked for but not arrived

at Employers of waterside 1 labour are disposed to take a firm stand in the dispute. The new agreement "concluded n* cently gave the waterside workers bigincroases in wages., and the chief inducement to the employers to accept- this agreement was the definite undertaking of the unions that any disputes arising in tie 1 fntuTe would bo referred to disputes committees for settlement. Ihe Wellington union has now refused to olv serve the agreement as far as the coal di.«nute is concerned. . The clause of the' agreement relating to disputes is as follows:— "The essence of this agreement being that She work of the employer 6hall al ways proceed in the customary manner, and shall not" on any account whatsoever be- impeded: it is provided that if any 'dispute or difference shall arise between the parties bound by this agreement or any of them, whether as to its construction or meaning; or as to any other manner whatsoever arising out of or connected therewith, every euoh dispute or difference shall be referred to a, committee, to bo composed of thrco re-' presentativee of the union at tfoo port concerned, and three representatives of the employers, for their decision. The decision of the majority of the committee shall b© binding, and if no decision is arrived at, then the matter slinll be referred to the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation, and fl committee of three employers; and ff tbev are unable to arrive at a decision, either party may appeal to the Court of Arbitration upon giving written notice of such appeal to the other party within fourteen days after the matter in dispute has been so"Toferred to the Waterside. Workers' Federation and tho aforesaid committee of employers." -•' A' stoD-work meeting is to be held by the. workers at 8 o'clock tuts morning to consider Uhe matter.