The Sylvia Trouble.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 79, 13 September 1912, Page 7

The Sylvia Trouble.

SOLIDARITY OF MINE AGAINST SCABBERY.

PROMPT ACTION

Sir,—ln order to prevent an erroneous impression being created regarding the cause of trouble between the management and the men of the New Sylvia mine, Thames, and of the decision arrived at by the parties interested, 1 am requested by my mates to explain, through your columns, the exact position in which we found ourselves and how we overcame the difficulty. On Thursday, August 29, we were informed casually by one of the shift that a Waihi man, supposed to belong to the Waihi Engine-drivers' Union, was employed at the battery, and that his mates did not know how to act under the circumstances. A -wire was sent to Waihi for confirmation or otherwise of the rumor and a reply was received from Mr. McMillan that the man in question was a member of the Engine-drivers' Union. On Friday we discussed matters among ourselves and decided that, notwithstanding we were members of a union under an arbitration award, >ye could not work with a man who was one of the causes of a distressing strike of our fellow-workers. We therefore decided to ask the management to dismiss the man. "The request was replied to in a somewhat vague manner— a kind of half-promise. Monday morning came and our request was answered by the manager, to the effect that he could not dismiss the man without a reason. All hands there and then decided to take a holiday to discuss the matter with the union officials. Two men only refused to come off the day-shift. Three battery men also knocked off, one refusing. After several informal meetings had been held, moderate counsels prevailed, and ft was decided to demand the en-gine-driver's absolute clearance from the Waihi Union (he having joined our union on August 31 without a clearance). As this is forthcoming, we consider we have done a little to help a cause that needs a lot of helping. Although the sum total of our victory is very small still it is as much as we could do under such adverse circumstances. We were right out on our own. We had not even the sympathy of our own union. So much for arbitration. The battery m*n were told that the consequence of their leaving the battery would be permanent dismissal. We held out for their reinstatement, and got it. It is stated in the "New Zealand Herald" that a majority went on afternoon shift. This statement is an absolute lie. Three only out of about a dozen men went on shift. There were five scabs and a traitor out of about 40 men, so that I think we had a pretty substantial majority of holiday-makers. So hoping for unity and friendship and the glorious day when the worker will be able to enjoy the fruits of his toil. —Yours, very sincerely. Tararu, SYLVIA. Thames. P.S. —There are 40 workers here to verify my statements re the -above.