TRAWLER HANDS STRIKE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 19 July 1929, Page 6

TRAWLER HANDS STRIKE

FREE CHEW ENGAGED (Hy TolofrrapU—Special to "The Mail") AUCKLAND, 18th July. With a, niw.s.'. of police within «asy c.'ili. the kiiwlor James Cmgr.i.vc i.', I'Cjdy to go (/> sea, with freii labour, hotcrew having struck work at 7 o'clock this morning as a protest against what they, consider adverse conditions of employment. The strike is the result of a secret ballot taken amongst unionists of the Sunford Company \ four trawlers. The main bone of contention is shore leave. The four trawlers arc the James Cosgrave, Scrub. Humphrey, and Thomas Currell. The James Cosgrave and Serfib are now at Sanl'ord's Wharf, Auckland. The Humphrey is at sea and is due at Auckland on Monday, while the Thomas Currell is fishing on the west coast and is due at Onehunga on Tuesday. There are ten members of each crew, seven of whom on each vessel are affected. The master engineer, and cook on each trawler are not in the fight. r lhe Scrub is due to leave at seven to-morrow, and at that time, when shore leave expires, the men are expected lo come out just as the men on the James Cosgrave came out this morning. Free labour is bein.ee engaged. Mr W. Brockic, manager of the company, stated this afternoon that he expected io bo aide, without trouble to get the •lames Cosgrave to sea to-night or early in the morning. At the present time the men get 24 hours' leave each week for three weeks per month, and 36 hours' leave on one. week. They are claiming 36 hours' shore leave every week. There are also minor demands, but all these ai'c subservient to the shove leave issue.