NO WATERFRONT WORK TODAY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 44, 15 November 1940, Page 8

NO WATERFRONT WORK TODAY

Lyttelton Men’s Decision

DISPUTE OVER STATUS OF SHOW DAY 7 IBv Telegraph—Press Association J CHRLSTCHURCH, November 14. There will be no work on the waterfront at Lyttelton tomorrow (Show Day i. though the waterside workers at a meeting on Wednesday decided to work overseas ships. Inquiries were made today and various reasons were given for the change. It was stated that the men on further consideration had decided to work only on ships loading food for’ Great Britain: this affected only one vessel and the watersiders asked that labour for this vessel should be put on today for, tomorrow, so that those not requited e.nild have the whole day off. They claimed that this would not involve tlie shipping company in any extra expense and would lie a convenience to the men not engaged. Show Day. tlie) claimed, though not an award holiday, had become a holiday by custom and had been observed for many years.

The request was refused, the employers’ contention being that there was no need to engage labour on the previous day. as is done with Sundax work, because Show Day was not an award holiday. There was also some doubt as to Hie probable time of arrival of the overseas vessel. The men thereupon declined to work at all tomorrow. Tlie dispute is further complicated by the fact that up till late this afternoon it was not known whether the vessel concerned would, in any case, arrive in time to work tomorrow.