WATERSIDE DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 121, 15 February 1921, Page 6

WATERSIDE DISPUTE

FAVOURABLE TURN IN WELLINGTON MEN ACCEPT OVERTIME WORK REFUSED IN AUCKLAND The waterside dispute, as far ae tho port of ’Wellington is concerned, has taken a favourable turn. The reply of the union to the employers' demand that normal operations . should be resumed within forty-eight hours was indefinite. It stated that the men, in refusing io work after 5 p.m., were acting individually, a contention that the shipowners are not prepared to accept in view of the evidence of concerted action. But yesterday afternoon, presumably as a result of the employers’ letter, the Wellington men accepted overtime in the normal fashion. A Dominion reporter was informed officially that from tho employers’ point of view tho men were now observing the agreement. It was reported last evening from Auckland that ihe waterside workers in that port had continuued to refuse to work after 5 p.m. A representative, of the employers, in answer to a question on this point, said that full information would be obtained from Auckland, and that in tho meantime no statement of intention could be made. There is reason io believe that the shipowners will not be content to have the agreement observed in one port and not in another. The wntersiders are working under a national agreement.

NO OVERTIME AT AUCKLAND BETTER WORK DURING DAY. Bv Tnlecranh—Press Association. Auckland, February 14. The Auckland waterside workers this afternoon declined to work after 5 p.m. The rate at which the men worked today was said to bo an improvement on last week and to be pretty well normal. As to what action tho shipowners will take, an Auckland representative of the large companies said to-day: “Me don’t know what will happen next. Everything is 'being done from Wellington, the headquarters of the Shipowners’ Association." OVERTIME RESUMED DISSENSION AT LYTTELTON. By Telegraph —Press Association. Christchurch, February 14. Just as suddenly and with as little warning as they refused to work overtime on Friday night, the watersiders at Lyttelton resumed overtime to-night, and all vessels for which there was labour were working. The resumption of overtime did not como its a surprise in shipping circles. There was much dissension among the men over/lie matter, the loss of the extra money earned at overtime being a sore point with many- ~ , t l From what could be gathered, at Lyttelton this morning, iii'tho opinion of some of the men, the companies next move will be a lock-out. Ihe mon generally lake the attitude that their action is individual, and consequently they need not inform tho companies whether they intend working overtime or not. DUNEDIN MEN WORK AS USUAL NO “GO-SLOW” POLICY IN FORCE. By Telegraph —Press Association Dunedin, February 14. Work appears to be progressing. nor-' mally to-day on tho waterfront. Officials and men of the Dunedin Union state that there is no “go-slow” policy in force.