LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2060, 17 June 1890, Page 4

LABOR DISPUTES.

London, June 12. ] I lie Orient- Company having die- J charged two fuemen and replaced them 1 with blacklegs, it resulted in the 'stevedores and three hundred labourers (not dockers; going, out on strike. The police in t lie metropolis arerefraining from striking as they (ear such a step would lead to the introduction of legislation detrimental to the in'erests of trade unionists, The East India Dock Company blaring abolished two or three dockers' representaliv?s at their dock, two thousand men have struck work as a protest against such action. A strike is also imminent at the Victoria dock, owing to the Company discharging 3C of their permanent hands. June 14. There is considerable delay and friction in post«l work in consequence of Mr Cecil Kaikes suspending a large number of postmen who attended a union meeting.

The police urge that Mr Munro be reinstated, acd (hay threaten to strike on the 20th unless they are better paid. The postmen also threaten to strike for better wages. Sydney, June 13. The Employers Union issued a statement to-ni3l.lt which traverses the appeal mude by the wharf labourers. The employers state that the rules of t,he labourers are not those which were drafted at the intercolonial conference, but are framed by the local men, ac'ing on their, own responsibility. The men's rules demand that constant men be allowed to join the union,but that they shall receive the current rate of wegep and sha'l be subject to bn called out when needed. No firm is to employ more than five hands who are not at work on the wharf, 'Hie great principle on which the emp'oyers and men Bre at present at variance is expressed in the proposal of the employers as fo l! ows : —That freedom of contract be nilowed between employers and labour in regard to time and conditions of men on regular weekly wages, and that bona fide constants only be worked. The employers ask that constsnts be at call for 56 hours, but both parties now, owuir to the fluctuating rtHture of the work, do not a\ernge 48 hours. 'lh» employers dec'ioe to piy lor smoke oh, and are utterly at loss to conceive why the men should object to sign »n agreement for 12 montlis. What encouragement, they is there to m»ka concessions it no guarantee willbe granted that they are to have at least a short term of quietness ?

Napifr, June 15. A brand) of the Po&tal and J'elegruph Officers' Society was formed bere last night. Wellington, June 13. 'J he Trades ami Labour Oonncii have decided to insist on the Tramway C< mp»ny accepting the same terms »s the Bus Company,namely 66 hours per week for grooms, and 72 for guards ; wages for drivers per week, guards 20h to 255, grooms 40s to the minimum only to apply to their unskilled hands. The council considers the scheme pro. posed by the tramway owners visionary and unstable, and intend, if necessary, to force the adoption of their proposals. June 14,

A depnlaiion of the R dlway Society waits on the Commissioners at 11 a.m. on Mouduy. It is quite possib'e the business will not be settled in on* dn}\ A branch of the New Zealand Postal and Telegraph (Society, was formed tonight. Forty-eight members were enrolled, Greymouth. June 14. Branches of the Postal and Telegraph Officers' Association have been formed at Greymouth, Udcitika, anil Westport, wliieb inbluiie nearly office ou the West Coast. Chrisiohurch, June 14. Complete returns of the bal'ot of the Railway EraplojeV Society oa the extreme measures question show 8096 for, and 112 against, June 15. Piior to the railway delegates from Christchurch leaving Lytielton on Saturday evening the officers of the Wharf Labourers Cuion met them and promised them ever/ support should extreme measures have to be resorted to. Dunedin, June 13.

The Federated Searaeu's Union sent £27 10,-, and the Wharf Laborers £SO, to aid the strikers at Shag Point. The hopes of a speedy amicable settlpmeDt in the Bhng Point dispute have proved fallacious, and the unions associated under the Maritime Council having negotiated for a peaceable settlement without effect, are now proceeding to combine against the proprietors. Notification has been sent by the teamen's Union, the wharf laborers and wharf carters, that on and after Monday they decline to handle any goods belonging to Boss and Giendining, or McKerrass and Hazlett. Wires have also been sent by those bodies to all of their branches throughout New Zealand, and the Railway Employes Association have also beeo nctified of the above decision, and requested to assist. Cables will bd smt to the Australian branches, and all preparations have been made far a general strike if necessary. rp, J Une 14. -the outcome of the Shag Point dispute is that the proprietors of the mine yield to tko terms of the Maritime Council, and the strike will and by the return of the two men lo work in the mine.