COST OF LIVING BONUS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1921, Page 3

COST OF LIVING BONUS

•STOP WORK” MEETING

* -i jBY TKI.KUHAI'H PER Pit ess association J A UCKLA NJ), J amuwy 11. A “stop work” meeting of the Auckland waterside workers union was held this morning to consider the offer made liy the employers in the Dominion generally to delegates of the unions, on the subject of the November cost of living bonus, when the Arbitration Court gave its decision of 3/- a weekworking out at i{d an hour. The Watersiders Federation which is not registered qnder the Arbitration Act made a demand for a similar bonus, which was considered by the delegates of the Watorsiders and of employees concerned. The Conference resulted in an offer being made by tho employers which was submitted by their delegates to a “stop work” meeting of watorsiders in every port of the Dominion this morning. The Auckland meeting "as attended by between 1009 and 1200 members and the discussion lasted for four hours without much idea being given of the general feeling of members on the subject. Tho.question "ill be balloted on to-day and to-morrow, and the result of tlie ballot forwarded to tlu* Central Executive at Wellington where the acceptances of offer "ill > u ‘- pond on the vote from till parts ol the Dominion.

Officials of the union decline to state outside their own fireleft *hat the amount of the offer is, but from unofficial sources, it bits been ji-eliably ascertained that the Watorsiders are votin; on the question of whether or,not they will accept a bonus of id per hour.

MEETING IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, January 11. Though the Transport Federation is federated with the seamqns union and a,,-et affiliated .with tine Alliance! of Labour, it seems that the component parts of the Transport Workers Federation were not consulted before this

step was taken. At a “stop work” meeting of the Seamens Union to-day it was reported that a plebiscite vote of members would be taken on the question of affiliation with the Alliance of Labour. The offer of a bonus of 3/- per day made bv the employers of waterside labour to the Waterside Federation will be submitted to ballot. MEETING IN GREYMOUTH. GREYMOUTII, January 12. The watcrskler workers in Grcymouth held a stop-work meeting yesterday. The meeting was a fairly lengthy one. a large number of matters being discussed, but nothing as to the proceedings or the decisions arrived at was available for publication. It is understood that the offer of a bonus based on tlm Arbitration Courts ■reednt annoitocdment (Id per hour, computed on ordinary working time, was one of the matters discussed. Tins question was considered by stop-wort meetings at every port in New Zealand yesterday.