SAW MILLING INDUSTRY.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 23, 11 August 1911, Page 14

SAW MILLING INDUSTRY.

Southland Sawmill Workers' Unian. Invercargilly- July 29. To Delegates, Members, and FClloavAvorkers. our last ''meeting of. the above Union I was* instructed/to forAvard to each delegate';'at the mills , seA r oral copies of our demands with the employers, and to instruct those who are not already receiving.union Avages not to. engage at a mill in future foxless than the rates enclosed'liereAA'ith. """We do not Avish to cause any serious ' trouble or incoiiA'eiiienee- ..-with/ those who are already receiving - the/wages • asked for, but we must realise'thai an injustice "to one is an "injustice to all,' and it is the bounden duty" of.-,every member to stand solidly together if the fight becomes a serious one. \ .: The position is, shortly/ /this:" That we-have been asking- for our present demand since 1904. We ha\-e niet the employers in conference on no less than five occasions during the past seven years; and they haA'e absolutely refused to concede to the men one condition which tends to improA r e their lot. We went before the Court on tAvb occasioKS, with only slight improvements to the loAver paid men, and that', wouldnot have been given by the judge if the employers' representative had not conceded the point. Noav, we find ourselves in.this 1 position : That the emploj-ers will grant lis no improvements unless they are forced to. .Judge Sim has laid.it doAvn on several occasions that he does not intend to grant any future improvements to the -workers unless under exceptional circumstances, and the employers knoAV this. That being so, avc find iioav that Aye are face to face Avith a very difficult problem. If we'-Avanb the '■■improvements which Aye have been asking for during the past seA r en .years (and Aye have no right to ask for them if Aye do not want them), the only course open-to-nrs—uoav is to vigorously fight for our rights. As the employers meet in conference and say that in the future this is the price of our timber, so there should be enough solidarity amongst the saAvmill hands to say to the employers: *'The demand of the Union is the price of bur labor in the future, and if you want to make profit for you, those are our prices." 1 may say that most of the men are already doing this. The Union is not sending out men. unless at present demands. We hope, by the men standing, solidly together in this manner, they-will show the employers that the Union is determined and earnest in it's, demands, and by adopting this attitude Aye may prevent serious trouble in the future. Members should realise that the .strength of our Union lies with each and every member, and all should assist in the fight. We' ask the delegate at each mill to call a meeting of all members under . his charge, and place this communication, and also the demands, before them for consideration, and to let the committee know their feelings on the matter. The delegates are also requested to give the names and ad-

dresses of all those aa'lio are Avorking for less than union demands at.each particular mill, and it Avill be a guide for the Union in its future action. ' Members AA r ill please note that the old award. rates are marked in brackets alongside, of our present demands.—Yours 'fraternally, Thos. O'Byrne, secretary.