Notes from Nightcaps

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 8 November 1912, Page 6

Notes from Nightcaps

THE COMPANY AND THE ENGINE-

DRIVERS

ENGINE-DRIVERS MAKE GOOD

Advantage was taken of the presence of Federation executive member Howard to get him to give an address on the principles of Socialism Our hall was well occupied by a largo audience of both men and women, who all took a keen interest in tho remarks of the speaker. The result will he, no doubt, that a small, but virile, branch of the Socialist Party will be formed here.

This company employs five enginedrivers, one of whom has to attend to the pumps and fan. Tho union was quite prcpnred to allow this man to go to work on demonstration day if the company wanted him, but only on condition that tho company wanted him badly enough to ask the union to let him go. The company would not lower itself to the extent of recognising the union, and the latter did not dream of running to the boss to ask if he wanted an exception made in connection with any of his employees. But the manager tried another e;ame. He threatened to take the ticket away from this engine-driver if he did not come to work, and quoted General Pule 29 of the Coal Mines Act to him. If the interpretation put on this rule by the manager was correct, tho only chance an engine-driver had to take a day off was by committing suicide. However, our comrade came out of the test with flying colors; he refused to be intimidated and participated in tho demonstration. The next move of the company was to go to each of the engine-drivers singly and tell him that he would have to leave- the Miners' Union. The reason given was that these men held responsible positions, and that the company must be in a position to depend on them being at work whenever they were required by the company. To put the matter in plain language, what the company meant was that it wished these men to scab if the necessity arose.

Not only was tho order given that they should leave the Miners' Union, but in some cases it was suggested that they should join the Engine-driv-ers' Union of Southland and he brought under tho operation of that body's award. It is most gratifying, however, to be able to say that the whole five en-gine-drivers unanimously decided to refuse to leave the Miners' Union, and i)bey all signed a document to that effect and sent it to the manager. That gentleman would then find out that he was not justified in the implied insult he had inflicted on these men when he thought they were the weakest members of our union and suitable material to use for future scabbery. Nightcaps engine-drivers have been nut to the test, and have, so far, made "■nod, and nil unionists should take off their hats to them.—Own Correspondent.