SHIPS HELD UP

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 200, 22 May 1944, Page 6

SHIPS HELD UP

Dispute At Auckland

Dominion' Special Service.

AUCKLAND, May 21. Nbarly 290 waterside workers walked off their jobs yesterday morning, leaving two overseas ships idle during the day shift at the weekend. On qne ship cargo was left in the slings, but about 100 men discharging phosphate from a third ship announced yesterday afternoon that they would not return this morning, and that ship too did not work today. Night shifts between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. weie worked over the weekend. The men’s action followed a dispute between the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union and the Waterfront Commission regarding the replacement of union men who wanted Saturday off. A number of men on each ship stated on Friday that they would not report for work yesterday. Representatives of the three employing firms said today that when they went to the waterfront bureau on Saturday morning to obtain other union men a servant of the Waterfront Commission told them they would have to employ- non-unionists. Non-union men were employed, but the president of the union, Mr. 11. Barnes, complained that available union men had not been engaged and n dispute arose with,'the commission. As no change was made the men on the ships ceased work.

The difficulty has been experienced, recently of obtaining union men to replace other members who desire days off. The men do not seek replacement work,, as it lessens their chances of obtaining jobs with longer continuity. During the las’, few weeks a position has arisen where non-unionists nave been employed to r-> place union men. The Auckland Waterfront Controller, Mr. W. J. Cnthbert, and Mr. Barnes both declined to comment on the matter today.