ONE-MAN STAY-IN TRIKE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 93, 6 May 1937, Page 4

ONE-MAN STAY-IN TRIKE

Napier Man Barricades Himself in Store OUT AT END OF DAY > With barricaded doors, enough food and water to last him two montb and determined to stand by his principles, Mr William Wood, storeman, of Napier initiated the first one-man "stayin" strike in the history of Hawke's Bay. He demanded higher wages from his empioyors, Henry WLliauis and Bons, Ltd., but he did not receive the bapking of his umon. The result of his aot'ion was that he ended his vigii at five o'clock last evening, and is now out of a job. Mr Wood is a weil-knuwn figure in Napier, havmg represented the Communist Party at the last general elections. Until the 1931 earthquake, he was receiving £5 10/- a week, but later his wages were reduced to £4 2/2 only temporarily, he alleges. No restoration was made, and so Mr Wood decided to take the steps that he did yesterday. At nine o'clock yesterday morning a worker endeavoured to enter Henry WiUiams and Sons' store in Vatier street. He found the door locked, and Mr Wood, from mside, informed him that the store was not going to be opened up. The manager, Mr Eric illiams, arrived on the scene, but still the door remained barricaded. A deadlock ensued. Mr Wood demanded higher wages j Mr Williams declined to give them. Mr Wood intimated that he would remain in the store until the door was forced open and he was ejected. The president oi the Napier branch qf the Labour Party, Mr J). B. McRae. had a talk with Mr Wood yesterday afternoon, not, however, in any official capacity. Following some argument, Mr Wood qonsented to abandon his strike, even knowiug that he was walkmg out of the store for good. He had lost his job. 1 The storeraen'g Umon is going to disouss the incident when it holdg its meeting towards the end of this month. Beyond saying that Mr Wood had lost his job, Mr Williams declined this moruing fco make any statement about the affair. Employees of the firm, too, remained silent on the matter.