WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 18856, 23 June 1920, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES

THE MELBOURNE STRIKE. COAL; DECLARED BLACK. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, June 22. The strike is beginning to assume uglier aspects. Irritated by the efforts of the volunteer’ workers at the gasworks the strikers are preventing the replenishing of coal stocks by declaring coal black. After the Trades Hall meeting 1000 strikers invaded the Government offices and forced their way into the Cabinet meeting whilst Ministers were partaking of afternoon tea. Subsequently the Premier received a deputation, but without result. WIRELESS OPERATORS’ STRIKE. CREWS REFUSING TO SAIL. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 21. (Received June 23, 12.20 a.m.) Several liners are not sailing from Liverpool for Now York, owing to the crews refusing to go without wireless operators. AMERICAN RAILWAY TROUBLES. ANOTHER “OUTLAW” STRIKE. NEW YORK, June 21. (Received June 22, 8.5 p.m.) What was termed an “outlaw” railway strike began on April 2, following on the disrating of a foreman in a Chicago yard. The strike spread throughout (4fe country with remarkable swiftness and without any previous statement of grievances, although certain demands were formulated later. Unionists as well as the public acted as breakers of the strike, whose objects were regarded as the destruction of constructive unionism and its replacement by the destructive tactics of force. Now a second “outlaw” strike of railwaymen has commenced at various centres throughout the eastern States. The men’s reason for acting is alleged to be the unreasonable delay of the Railway Labour Board in making known its decision in appeals made by the employees for higher wages. Already many hundreds are out, but passenger traffic so far is not affected. WORKERS’ UNIONS. AN AUSTRALASIAN AMALGAMATION. SYDNEY, June 22. (Received June 22, 10.43 p.m.) The Australian Workers’ Union announces that as a result of propaganda carried out by the Union for closer industrial organisation, an amalgamation has been consummated witji the New Zealand Workers’ Union. This means an additional membership of 12,000 to the Australian Workers’ Union. THE COAL AGREEMENT. QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 21. Meetings of the coal mine-owners and the Coal Miners’ Federation, were held today in Wellington to discuss the disputes that have arisen at several mines as to the interpretation of the national agreement concluded some months ago. There were some six disputes to be considered, and it is understood that in three of these disputes the difficulties were all adjusted. The other three it was not found possible to settle. At the request of the miners’ representa--1 fives the disputes were referred to (he j Prime Minister, and delegates met the ! Prime Minister late in the afternoon. Mr | Ma-’-ey made a suggestion to the assembled I delegates for a settlement. The suggestion was at once accepted by the owners, but ; the miners refused to accept it. There the matter stands at present. Representatives of the parties are to meet Mr Massey tomorrow morning to discuss the matter further with him. PRINTING TRADES DISPUTE. ARBITRATION COURT HEARING. CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. The printing trades dispute was before (he Arbitration Court to-day. An agreement on many points bad been reached before the Conciliation Council, but that Court was asked to adjudicate on others. In regard to tire claim for payment for j holidays. Mr Justice Stringer said the Union was asking the. Court to establish a ! big principle. Tito Court’s decision would j affect not only the printing industry but I also all other industries in the dominion. It could not look on that industry alone when it viewed the application. It was asked by the Union that women workers should receive the Court's bonus of 3s a week, tuid that rotary machinists and stereotypers should la- given two weeks’ holiday per annum on full pay. The employers contended that they had already given increased wages more than equal to the bonus of 8s now asked for women workers. As to holidays, the custom was- to pay in cases where overtime was net paid. ’They objected to the claim for payment for holidays as a matter of right I and expressed op|«>sit.ion to the application I for two weeks’ holiday for rotary machinists and stercotypcrs. Exemption was asked for certain newspaper establishments in Westland, including Westport, Hokitika, Inangahua and Reofton, which the Union opI posed on the ground that some country newspapers were very prosperous. Increases lin piecework rates for linotype opera'ors i were asked for, and also that case making ! should be included in the award dealing ; with bookbinders. Both applications were objected to. | In regard to the latter it was submitted i that if the demands were conceded many | girls would be thrown out of employment, 1 and it would bo impossible to carry on the printing of educational works in New Zeai land, and a revolution would be brought | about in producing small books in the doI mutton. i AUCKLAND TRAMWAY STRIKE.' . PROSECUTIONS ORDERED. i AUCKLAND, June 22. | Inst .••net ions have been received from Wellington by the the Labour Department, Auckland, that prose- | tuitions are to be taken in connection with I the recent strike of employees on the Auck- | bum tramways. litis action will be under i the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration i Act CANTERBURY TAILORING DISPUTE. TEAM SYSTEM CONDEMNED BY UNION | CHRISTCHURCH, June 22. The Canterbury tailoring trade dispute was before the Arbitration Court to-day. The union asked for a 44 hour week, a wage at the rate of £5 per week for male workers, and £3 10s for female workers, piece workers to receive Is fid and Is 2d per hour respectively. .Niter hearing the evidence His Honour sai l that at New Plymouth evidcuce was given that under the team system workers were able to earn per cent higher wages, and to produce clothing at a reasonable rate. Mr R. F. Cooke, for the union, said that the system robbed the workers of their individuality and mode slaves of women. His Honour: The women didn’t look like slaves. They were strong intelligent looking women who resisted interference with the conditions under which they were working. Mr F. Cooper, for the employers, sub mitted that it would be disastrous if the union’s demands were agreed to. They re presented as regards males an increase over pre-war wages of 109 per cent., ' and in respect of females 133 per cent. The Court reserved its decision.