LOW PAY REFUSED.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1932, Page 5

LOW PAY REFUSED.

BY UNION SEAMEN

NON UNION CREW SIGNED ON

! By Telegraph—Pet -Press Association | . AU(|c|vND,., May 30. Because the w'ifse|i? would be rive per cent, less thuii;-the current rates, members of the Seamen’s Union refused to offer to-day tor service on the Admiralty oil tanker “Nucula,'’ which- i'V .being reconditioned, and As? scheduled to sail for San Pedro on Tnursday. / In consequence, the vessel will no manned by a non-Union crew, which will be signed on the ’articles tomorrow.

information that'a crew was required tor * the A ucida , was given to the Auckland officials of the 'Seamen's Union on Saturday. It was N stated that the men would be paid at the rate of five per cent, below the wages piovidod m the existing Seamen’s Agieement, 'and that if the members oi the Union objected, a crew of non-

Union seamen would .oe engaged. Arrangement* were made lor a crew to sign on the Aucu’a at Devonport at 10 o’clock to-day, but shortly before thnt time, the Secretary of tlm Union informed Commander Berthon, vho is in charge of the recommissioning of the Nucula, that the t-rnis offered werg not acceptable, and tlmt members of the Un-on would not • offer for employment on the vessel.

Commander Berthon then arranged for a non-Union crew.

The five per cent, wages reduction applies, only, to those ■ whose wages total £225 or 'loss a' year. Those receiving above that amount will have a ten per cent, cut. , Commander Bertliop - commenting on the position, said the Nucula was classed as a Government vessel, and the cats . being made in the wdges of the crew were in keeping; with the reduction in salaries and wages in ail Government Departments. He said that the present cut was the first that the men had received because they were working under an agreement which was not governed by th e Arbitration Court, and it did not expire until July 31. Officers, engineers, cooks and stewards on the Nucula, however, bad already had their wages reduced twice. ■' ■ , .* ;• 1

Owing to the large number of unemployed seamen ail'd firemen, there were numerous applications, fpr positions, and Commander Berthon stated that sufficient men were available to man a fleet of. vessels like .the Nucula. A number of the applicants were certified engineers, who were willing to take firemen’s position!?.