FOXTON WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1023, 26 March 1912, Page 3

FOXTON WATERSIDE WORKERS.

THEIR DEMANDS

CONFERENCE OF EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS

Following the lead of other sections of workers the men employed in and about the local dumping-sheds, wharf, etc., have formed themselves into a workers union, under the name of the Foxton Waterside and General Workers Union. This Union which has now been in existence for some two mouths past, is affiliated with the New Zealand Federation of Labour and their rules which are registered under “ The Trades Union Act, 1908,” are similar to other Waterside Workers Unions which belong to the New Zealand Federation of Labour. The officers of the Union are :—President, Mr W, Walker ; vice-president, Mr G. Rulfell ; secretary 7 and treasurer, Mr E. G. Martin ; committee, Messrs G. Tozer, G. Reeves, O. Hair and R. Tapiue ; trustees, Messrs P. Skillen and F. Hadfield ; auditors, Messrs J. Hannah and C. Beeston. We understand that practically all the workers interested are members of the Union,

Immediately upon the registration of the Union the first business was to formulate demands as to wages and conditions of labour and these demands were prepared and served on all the employers interested about a month ago. As a result of the demands made a conference between representatives of the employers and the workers was arranged, to discuss terms of settlement and it possible to come to some amicable agreement. The conference was fixed for 10-day and commenced at nine o’clock this morning. The employers were represented by Messrs Fuller, Kellow (Levin and Cu. Ltd.), Phillips (New Zealand Shipping Co. Ltd.), and W. Pryor (Secretary of the Employers’ Federation). Captain Rogers was to have been present to represent the Anchor Combauy, but was unable to attend.

The representatives of the workers are : Messrs E. G. Martin, T. Gore, T. Ward aud Hamer (members of the Foxton Union), aud Mr Smith, of the Federation of Labour. The conference was not open to the press. We approached the employers and the workers and asked for a copy ol the demands, but both refused to make the demands public. The secretary of the Union declined on the grounds that if the Press was supplied with a copy it might prejudice their case. We understand, however, that the demands made are upon exactly the same basis as the agreement come to between the employers and the waterside workers at Patea some few months ago. The conference commenced this morning at 9 o'clock and an adjournment for lunch was made at 1 p.m. The proceedings throughout were of a very friendly nature, and at the luncheon adjournment the matter of rate of pay and conditions of work in connection with the waterside workers were amicably agreed upon.

At the commencement of the conference a motion was passed to the effect that no information was to be given to the press until an agreement had been arrived at on all points. Although a settlement had been arrived at in connection with wharf labour at the time of the adjouruamenl lor lunch, the rate of pay and conditions of work in the dumping sheds had still to be settled, and until this is done neither side would give any information lor publication. We believe that practically the whole of the demands of the Union as to rate oi pay for labour on the wharf have been agreed to. Some of the increases are, we understand, as follows: —Handling cargo, rate of pay to be increased from xs 3d to is 6d per hour ; coal, increase of 2d per hour, and au increase from 2s 6d to 3s qd au hour to be made when men are required to commence unloading at 12 o’clock on Sunday nights.

This afternoon the conference is engaged in discussing matters affecting the workmen employed in the dumping sheds.