WATERSIDE STRIKE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 22 November 1927, Page 5

WATERSIDE STRIKE

OVERTIME AND IRRITATION AUSTRALIANS VIOLATE AWARD SHIPPING SERIOUSLY DELAYED [By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.! (Received 22. 11.25 a.m.) Melbourne. November 22. Tlie overtime strike has already delayed a number of vessels, including the mail steamer Mooltan, which was unable te depart to schedule time. The Union Company steamer Kahariki was declared “black” on arrival from Risdon, because it contained a cargo of zinc loaded at the Electrolytic Zinc Company’s works at Risdon by the company’s own labour. For some years zinc has been loaded at the company’s works by the company’s employees, but recently the Tasmanian wharf labourers declared the work belonged to them and threatened, if a- cargo were loaded by other labour. that it would be declared “black” This decision is regarded as part of a new policy of the Watersiders’ Federation in adopting irritation tactics against shipowners as well as the overtime strike Tlie Watersiders’ Federation also threatens to declare the Commonwealth liner Fordsdale black if any attempt is made to transfer the zinc from the Kakariki to the Fordsdale.

A joint statement issued by the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association says the Watersiders’ Federation repeatedly refused to give the Arbitration Court satisfactory guarantees that the old award 1 would be obeyed in the event of their plaint proceeding before the Court. Overseas shipowners had held conferences with the Federation with similar result. The men were violating the award in practically every port of Australia, and it was quite impossible for shipowners to carry on business satisfactorily under the intolerable conditions at present existing. Referring to the Kakariki, it states that the zinc aboard her is urgently required in London, and was to have been transhipped to the Fordsdale today. It has been the practice for many years for the company's men to load zinc at Risdon. and although the watersiders several times asked for a Court order that members ot the Federation were entitled to this work the Court, after full inquiries in every case', declined to grant the application. The watersiders had now resorted to direct action in defiance of the Court.

QUEENSLANDERS WANT' EXCLUSION.

(Received; 22. 11.25 a.m.) Brisbane, November 22. Thp State president of the Watersiders’ Federation announced at Melbourne that at the watersiders’ conference the Queensland representatives fought for exclusion from any future overtime strike, and it was promised that they would only be called into such a strike as a last resort. STEAMER PASSES ON. (Received 22, 11.25 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 22. On the grounds that the vessel had been loaded by non-union labour at the Electrolytic Company’s wharf at Risden coal trimmers at Newcastle refused to handle the Norwegian steamer Yarra which arrived for bunker supplies. The local agent refused to waste time conferring with the union officials to effect a settlement, and ordered the vessel to continue its voyage to the Solomon Islands.