LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2099, 16 September 1890, Page 2

LABOR DISPUTES.

Loudon, Sept. 11. The Southampton dock owners refuse to confer with the clergymen who have offered to mediate between them and the union delegates. Sept. 32. The London unions tear that they will be involved at no distant date in a general struggle with the shipping federation, Southampton is now tranquil and the dockers are resuming work at Id advance which was conceded a fortnight lago. The Loudon dockers are boycotting an Irish non-unionist vessel, Melbourne, Sept, 12. Owing to the stoppage of the export trade tha butter market is glutted and the article is selling at sixpence per lb. Sept. 12. Tha Trades Council has passed a resolution declining to recognise Mr Champion as the representative of the trades unions, and refusing to accept him as a mediator in the present struggle j also that the Qpupcil regards his actions during his visit to Australia ap opposed (o (he best interests of labor.

With regard to (be disposition of funds received from the onions at Home, enquiries as to whether the New Zealand strikers will receive a share of them have elicited the fact that the English organisations sent the money direct to the colonies where they wished it to be spent. Sept, 13. The provinces, in response to an appeal from the London dockers, have forwarded £IOO in aid of the Australian strikers. The National Coal Porters’ Union will forward £IOO a week. The Shipowners’ Federation show great determination to prevent officers affiliating with labor organisations, and exhibit great firmness in the defence of officers who dec ine to become unionists, and are actively supplying nonunionist labor so as to overcome the strike.

Stditby, Sept, 13.

The reprrsenlatives of the men on strike say that thep are perfectly :willing to meet the employers, and are fully prepased to forego a portion of their demands, but say that it is absolutely necessary that the owners should agree to the fundamental principl - <>f unionism; that only union men should be employed, and that the Officers’ Association should ba allowed to use iheir own discretion of the advisability of affiliating with other labor bodies. The committee were unable to agree on the question of nonunion shearers, but it is understood that if the employers will consent to recognise trades unionism in its entirety the members of the latter are prepared to sign an agreement that no farther demands be made for a long period,

The labor defence committee are considering the manifesto recently issued by the employers. Mr Daria, of the Seamen’s Union, say that the manifeito shows clearly that the prime object of the employers ie to crash trade unionism in all its forms.

The total contributions to the strike fond so far amount to £5300. The conference of employers at Sydney passed resolutions affirming that (bey would employ free labor, and, take all possible means to protect it; that captains of vessels who are members of unions affiliated to other unions should not be employed ; that employers in each trade form a union and hare a federal council in each colony. They also issued a manifesto denying that they are in the remotest degree responsible for the strike, denouncing the stringent regulations of trades unionists, who want to exclude free labor and limit the work to members; that the unjust combination of all anions to boycott trade must be resisted, and also the edicts that only wool, grain, etc., worked by anion labor can only be shipped ; that in order to enforce the edicts mentioned the members of tbs labor anions, whether directly concerned or not, are compelled by their leaders to leave their .employment frequently contrary to iheir own desire, and with disregard to legal The employers in the coarse of their trade have also to be content with the fact that the labor anions ignore the agreements made by them in corporate capacity with their employers if it euiifc'" the purpose of. the moment to repudiate them. The incidents which hare occurred dating the present strike give abundant proof of tbe correctness of this assertion. An ‘agreement lately made by the wharf laborers of Sydney was openly violated within a few dhys of its completion, The present strike was forced on, the emp oyers, bat in opposing it, passive resis'anco only was offered, and while the employers endeavoured to conduct their business by the aid of free labor, they have not sought in any way to assail unionism, although they have elsiven to counteract its abases. Sept. 14.

The labor defence committee have called out the trolly and draymen* and U is expected that fully 1000 'will, be on strike to-morrow. The men had decided on tbeir own account to demaud that the wagf*s should be from 40s to 45s per week, according to the number of horses they drove, and that twelve, hours ba a day’s work. They stipulated that meal hours were to be included in the twelve hours, and that they should knock off at 8 o’clock on Saturday afternoons.. Brisbane, Sept. 12.

The output of the Bundanbo colteries is 1200 tons per day. 'lhe Thomas mine is capable of doubling this if necessary. NEW ZEALAND. Names, Sept.,l2. As none of the unionists at Port would complete the loading of the Star of Victoria with Nelson Bn a. frozen meat, the men from the Tomoana Freezing Works were obtained. ( At a meeting of the Wharf Laborers Union this afternoon, 180 being present, the action of the Railway (Jomm'saioners in dismissing the four men at Christchurch was condemned in strong’ terms. Two men who had assisted the free laborers were expelled. Nelson Bros, have issued orders tha their butcher’s shop at the Spit should not supply the wharf laborers with meat unless the cash was forthcoming, and one man who owed 5s 4d had the bi l sent in with a footnote requesting a prompt settlement. An opinion obtains that these tactics will not meet with the ap* proval of the public. Wellington, Sept. 12. The arbitrators appointed to consider the question of the Gear Meat supplying the Union Company’s vessels with Jraeat met to«day. It was admitted that there was no issue upon which to arbitrate, and it was agreed that if tha contract was broken the Union Company would reap advantage, inasmuch as they woqld recpive a penalty of whiph the Goar Company render themselves liable to. The result of the meeting was

that the Gear Company continue to supply he vessels as usual. . There was considerable excitement about the Queen’s Wharf in the latter part of this afternoon, it being anticipated that a further attempt would be made to molest the free laborers. A few minutes after the knock-off bell rang on the wharf the free laborers could be seen coming to the number of a dozen, and excitement ran high. They made straight for town and were protected by detachments of special and ordinary constables. The unionists intend to start a cooperative store. Over 20 cooks and stewards have returned to the Union Company’s s*rvice. - « September 13.

To-day was generally looked upon as “strike pay” day t but the general committee have decided to pay over no money. The case of each man will be carefully considered, and rent or board and lodging, as may be necessary, will be paid, whether the striker is single or married, and if the latter the number of family will be considered and orders for provision be given accordingly. In the case of expressmen, etc., fodder for horses will be provided. It is understood that with a view ©f preventing the calling out of the special and ordinary constables, and putting ai stop to demonstrations each day, representation* have been made to the Department of Justice that they should insist on the Harbor Board boarding the men either in a house on the, wharf or in a house boat. Numerous cases of looting the meat safes of] residents are recorded, and only yesterday one man who was found chasing ducks In a poultry yard got three months. Mr H. Fielder, furniture dealer, who was one of . the specials yesterday, was rather roughly handled last night while wending bis way home to Newtown. In his struggle he lost a diamond ring. With this exception the town was very quiet, -but thore ; were large crowds about. Mr Thomas Carter, president of the Seamen’s Union, announces himself a candidate for the City seat. At a meeting of. the trades organisations the voting for a labor representative at the coming election resulted in Messrs W. McLean, F. H. Fraser, and 0. J. Worth receiving (he largest number of votes.

At a meeting cf unionists last night Ihe following resolutions were carried “That Ibis meeting rejoices to bear of the itartiog of the New Zea'and Co-opera-tive Steamship Company, and pledges itselfln every way possible to render practical assistance to the movement.” •* That this meeting protests against the tyrannical action of the Bailway Commissioners in dismissing men who have had the courage to stand true to the principles of unionism.” “That this meeting congratulates moat hearti'y the discharged emplojrf* for their courageous attitude on behalf of labor, and further sympathises with them for their loss of position. ’• Christchurch, Sept. 12.

A mass meeting of Lyttelton unionists this afternoon unanimously passed a resolution disapproving of recent disturbances, repudiating any knowledge of the same, and deciding never to countenance anything of the kind as being a disgrace to unionism and opposed to its best interests.

A .crowded meeting of unionists at the theatre to-night passed resolutions protesting against the recent action of the Railway Commissioners as calculated to increase the disorganisation of trade; that "the dismissal- of the four men is a direct attack on the liberty of speech, and that concerted action be taken in the interests ; of labor at the forthcoming general election. September 14. , This afternoon a slight disturb mce oci oiirred in front of the Metropolitan Hotel between non-unionists and union sympathisers. It is doubtful how the row began, but it appears that the two parties were bandying words, and one of each side got into a fight. The police came up and arrested three union spmpathisers named Murphy, Quinn and Daly. No one was hurt.

Dunedin Sept. 13. - Sfcoular and Chislom’s hands have resumed work. The unionists and strikers held a demonstration to-day. . The speakers, with the exception of Mr W. Hutchison, were all were all unionists. Resolutions were passed (1) declaring that the action of the Commissioners in dismissing the four members of the executive of the Railway Servants’ Society was tyrannical, unjust, and uncalled for, evidently done with the view of causing a strike, and that it was a direct breach of (he understanding * arrived at at the conference in Wellington ; (2) that this meeting heaitily thank Sir George Grey, Mr Fish, Mr Ssddon, - and other members of Parliament for the consistent support given to the ctuse of labor ; (3) that the four members of the railway executive should be at ouce reinstated, and' that the resolutions be torwarded to the Government. It was announced that there was no intention of 'calling ont the railway servants. Inteecabgiil, Sept. 13.

At a public meeting last n'ght re the dismissal of officers of the Railway Society the idea preyailed that it was limited to unionists, and only a hundred were present. A reso'ution was passed ; lK«t the action of the Commissioners WS3 afbitray end a violation of the pledge given that none should be m«de euff-r for taking part in the affairs of the " Railway Society. It was a'so agreed to telegraph to the Southland members to do nil in their power to gel the men reinstated, and in the event of noc-«uccess that the meeting shall do their best to compensate the men for the sacrifice they had made in the cause of unionism.

the south wales railway STRIDES,

The London Cluonicle of July 25ih says; The efforts which have broa made to avert a serious railway crisis in South "Wah shave so far failed. The workers on the 3>ffYa'e, the Rhymney, and the Barry lines banded in their notices yesterday. Of course <fforta for a reconciliation of the disputants will be continued, but at present bo hope is entertained of their success. Thus ti e whole trade of South Wales may for a time be paralysed. Yet the main difference between thecombatants seems of a very minor character considering the great interests involved, the latt Yale directors peremptorily refuse the demand to pay a full week’s wages to men w ho rf main on call for du’y. They wou’d have the men always at command, yet only bo paid for the time they are actually employed. Thus a man might have to

wait two hours for one horn's woik and # only receive one hour’s p iy for three hours of his time. This is manifesty unfair, and it is to be considerable extent in sympathy with the victims of his drastic rule that the men on the Bhymney and Bury lines have handed in their notices. We believe that nearly every man connected with the three lines has consented to join in the strike.