STRIKE PROPOSAL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1932, Page 5

STRIKE PROPOSAL

BY N.Z. SEAMEN

ADVERSE RESULT OF VOTE.

Lliy Telegraph, Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, April T 9

Consideration of a proposal to declare a strike was tire main business of a large stop-work meeting of the members of the Auckland Branch ot the Federated Seamen’s Union, held at the Trades Hall to-day. The meeting commenced at eight o’clock, and lasted for over three hours, and, at the close it was announced that no decision had been ireached.

Tt is learned, however, that, on the proposal to declare a strike, about 200 men voted in favour of such a move, while there was an adverse vote of approximately 250. Tt is understood that, to put such a proposal into effect, a two-thirds majority of those present is required. The declared purpose of the meeting was to consider communications from the National Council, which has been sitting in Wellington; but there was a considerable element present intent On testing the feeling on the strike question, alldi, jas ft result of their insistence, the proposal put forward was warmly debated.

Members of the Union from nil of the stenmers in port, were in attendance, the last to arrive at +l’e meeting being 35 members o' the crew of the intercolonial stenniT 1 “Maunganui”, which did not berth until well after the meeting had commenced. It is understood that the seamen in employment were against any proposal to hold up ships, while the great body of those who have had no work for many months, as the result of numerous ships having been laid up, favoured a strike.

Tt was pointed out by a member of the union that, by going bn strike just now, the seamen in employment would needlessly sacrifice bene ( fits they enjoyed under the existing agreement, covering their wages and conditions. The Federated Seamen’s Union is not a party to the Arbitration Court, but their wages and conditions are fixed by a mutual agreement, which came into force on April T, T 930, and was arranged to remain in force until July 3T, T 932. This agreement was arrived at as the result of a. rmmcl table conference between rep-eseula-tives of the shipowners and the seamen, and a guarantee that conditions would he carried out bears the signature of the chairman of the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation, the General Manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, and the General President arid General Secretary of the Seamen s Union. *By virtue ‘’of “"this agreement the sSalHelt Wel’e Hot affected by the tell per cent, wage cut, and would not he subjected to any other reductions that might be imposed on other workers.

Tito decision of to-day’s meeting was communicated to the National Council in Wellington, and it- i s not anticipated that any further action will be taken in Auckland until the position has been reviewed by-that body. ‘ ‘ .