WATERSIDE TROUBLE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 306, 20 August 1932, Page 5

WATERSIDE TROUBLE

(Press Assn.-

MEN REFUSE TO WORK UNDER THE OWNERS' NEW PROPOSALS RESENT WAGES REDUCTION Following the lapsing of the Domiuion waterside workers' award, the men in all ports with the exception of Lyttelton have riefused to work ships under the new terms proposed by the owners. As' a result, work on the wharves is practically at a standstill and a number of vessels are held up. Thie men claim that the owners are assuming a dictatorial attitude and that they cannot accept a further wages reduction following upon the ten per cent cuts.

— By Telegraph — Copyright)

Wellington, Friday. When waterfront labour was called for at 7.45 this morning under the new conditions, none offered. As no agreement was reached ragarding a new agreement between ship-owners and the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation, the ex isting award expired at midnight last night. Labour to he engaged on the waterfront to-day would, therefore, he under the terms of a proposed agreement offered by the employers before the conciliation council, but rejected by the federation. The employers' offer, which is to apply to all the main ports in N'ew Zealand, provides for >a reduction in wages and in special rates of pay fpr certain classes of work, for the handling of increased weights in slings of some types of cargo, and for different terms regarding the reduction of gangs working on vessels. ' A proposal which has aroused opposition among the workers is to work from midnight to midnight, allowing ships to be discharged throughout the night.