CORNERING LABOR POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1919, Page 5

CORNERING LABOR POWER.

WELLINGTON WATERSIDERS' NEXT MOVE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 23. Some points pf general interest are mentioned in the annual report of the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union, which was presented at a atop-work meeting this week. "Our next move," ptates the president of the union in this report, ''must be to enrol all the permanent workers on the waterfront, so as to consolidate our labor forces, and to corner all the labor power in this industry. Then our union will be better equipped to fight the every-day battles for conditions. Our immediate duty I should be to make a definite demand for a reduction in the working day, bringing it down to at least seven hours." The report mentions the protests that have been made by shipping and business people against the union's practice of bringing all work on the'wharves to n standstill while it holds meetings. The executive argues that stop-work meetings are desirable in order that all members of tHe union may attend and obtain first-hand information regarding the business of the union. The report does not explain why the meetings are held at busy times of the day instead of at hours when few men nre employed. The executive puts forward a suggestion that executive metings ought to be' held during working hours. This would involve the payment of the members of the executive. The president recommends the union to peraisjt in its demand that the Harbor Board shall provide a restaurant on the wharves for, the convenience of the waterside Workers. He mentions that some members of the union favor the establishment of a restaurant by the union itself, but he thinks the Harbor Board should be pressed to make the provision. The board's reply has been that as the wharves practically abut on the city streets there can be no Teal inconvenience in the waterside workers obtaining their meals like other people.