THE WATER-FRONT INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1921, Page 3

THE WATER-FRONT INDUSTRY

REFORM WANTED

OBJECT LESSON FROM SYDNEY

The Welfare League has periodically, during the past two years, emphasised the grave drawbacks and dangers which arise from the existing system of casual labour on our waterfronts and wo have repeatedly called for some attempt to bring into existence a system of permanent labour, in order to place the industry on a more stable basis. We have only to recall the stoppages of work, the “go-slow” and costly conditions which have caused such enormous loss to the public, to show that some drastic reform is necessary. SYDNEY’S EXAMPLE.

We have been making enquiries as to the attempts that have been made to overcame similar evils in oilier countries, and find that we have an object lesson quite near at hand in Sydney. Space will not allow of too detailed an account of the methods found so successful at that port but the following outline will be useful to the many people who are giving their attention to this matter.

; LABOUR CONTROL COMMITTEE. In 1917 a Labour Control Committee or Bureau was formed in Sydney which had the support and approval of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court which controlled the cargo handling on coastal and overseas ships only. The interstate ships did not come into the scheme. MEMBERSHIP. Applications for admission to the Union have to be made on forms and the applicants passed by a Committee appointed for the purpose. If satisfactory, the new member is given a metal, numbered disc, which gives him the right of employment, members are" liable to be dealt with for misconduct by a Committee of three (one of whom is tho Secretary of the Waterside Federation) appointed by the Arbitration Court and lie lias the right of appeal to an outside arbitrator also appointed by the Court. In practice this Committee deals leniently with minor offences, hut cargo pillaging is fatal and results in the forfeiture of the disc of membership without which no employment is possible. PERMANENT AND CASUAL STAFF. The Control Committee lias a permanent, staff of varying numbers according to circumstances, who are paid the "basic” weekly wage, work or no work, and who are the first to be called { upon ; they also have several hundred casuals on the books; also a varying number according to the season and , volume of trade. ORDER OF EMPLOYMENT. In the first place the casual men | register their names for work, and it casuals are required!hoy are put on in priority or registration; on getting a job be hands in his disc to t’ c office , which is returned to him when the job ( is over, and thus it is at once known ■ by the presence or absence of the disc if the particular man is at work or waiting. Priority of work accoiding to J time of registering bis name insures the man against favouritism. J METHOD OF WORK.

When a stevedore wants men he notifies the Committee that he wants so many at stub a place at such a time. The gangs are made up first from the permanent bands available and secondly from the casuals who have registered for work.

SYSTEM OF PAYMENT AND PROFIT.

The stevedore is charged for the men engaged at the current rate per hour. The wages paid to permanent bands weekly, work or no work, naturally amount to less than current hourly rate for casuals whose work may be intermittent. Thus by charging the stevedore the hourly rate on all bands engaged there is a profit on the permanent men supplied. In addition to this the ship is charged a small percentage on the stevedores’ account which goes to the Committee to cover expenses. The shipowner is willing to pay this, as the whole system makes for less delay and avoidance of strikes and stoppages. There lias not been one stoppage of work in the past four years. DISPOSAL OF PROFITS.

The profits which are considerable, used for providing comforts and conveniences for the men, and. in deserving cases, are used to financially assist the men and their dependents When suffioi'ent profits are. accumulated schemes for superannuation will lie established.

Overtime is regulated between the permanent and casual bands by mutual arrangement and without friction. A CONTRAST.

Before the abov ( . system was introduced a coal lumper would have to sit “on the stringer” waiting for a call. He might be there all day nd get a night job, knocking off at 3 a.m. he could noli go home, no trams or trains, so he “dossed” on dock iili daylight—arrived at home just when his wife was getting the kids off to school. He, tired, dirty, hungry, a .id not too good tempered naturally did not cut a good figure before his family and the conditions were not conducive to family happiness. Now be leaves his work, say, at 3 a.m., goes to the Chib provided for the workers in the scheme, hands in his disc and registers his name for a job. He then can put his shovel in his locker, take out his clean clothes, have a hot or cold shower, and sleep in a comfortable bed after a snack of coffee and sem es. Tn the morning for a small sum he can get a good breakfast, and then

leaving, can see on the call board m the Hall when his next job is ready; h ( > catches his train or rain and is home in time to soo his children off to school, he is clean, has had a good sleep and breakfast and his arriva. is welcome. As he knows the time and place for his next job, lie avoids the discomfort of “sitting on the string-r” waiting for a call, and his time is Dee for anything else he may wish to do HOW applicable to new ZEALAND.

We do not, propose in this article to deal with any suggestions as to tlawny in which the authorities in .Lis Dominion should handle the waterside difficulty—bbt two points should ho noted in relation to the above very successful scheme in Sydney.

Firstly that the Harbour authorities have nothing to do with the labour control. They administer the. Harbour