WATERSIDE WORKERS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 3 December 1912, Page 5

WATERSIDE WORKERS

QUESTION OF UNIONISM

VESSELS HELD UP

(By Telegraph — Press Association. TIMARU, Last Night

The Foderationist Waterside Union ■ name days ago threatened to strike t it' two men were employed by the railways on the wharf, and who are members of the Railway Servants Society, and have withdrawn from the Waterside Union. To-day two steamers, the -Kittawa (partly unloaded of timber) and the Corinna, which had arrived for cargo were to be worked, and four gangs turned up. When Scott, the crane driver appeared, tho gangs knocked off. The second railway man did not appear, being unwell. Both steamers went away, and the captain of the Kittawa said ho would laud the balance- of the Timaru timber at Lyttelton, but Mr Gould, the Union secretary, wired to the Lyttelton watersiders that the Timaru cargo was not to he handled there. Jn explanation of the Union's practical "protest," lie said the '.wo railway men concerned had benefitted more through tho Union's action than any other men on the wharves (ho put I it at GGO a year), yet they refused to , pay a paltry few pence a week to rej main members of the Union. The Union wished the shipping people to observe the preference clause of their agreement, and had merely knocked off work to compel compliance with it. They did not consider *t a strike but a protest. Scott, when interviewed on the subject, said he had been a member, of the Railway Society for eight years, and did not see why he should be a member of two unions. He was employed by tho Railway Department, and not by the shipping people, and there way no need for him to have anything to do with the Waterside. Union. He denied Mr Gould\s statement that the railway men had been benefitted by the Union. They asked for an increase.- and got it before they had joined the Union. As railwaymen, they were not bound by tho Watersiders' Agreement. Besides the Kittawa and Corinna, the 5.9. Kaipoi was to have come herewith 1000; tons of coal, but will no\r discharge at Wellington, and it is understood that other vessels about due will bo ordered not to call. It. is understood that tho Union has acted without waiting or asking for the approval of the Federation Executive, and will explain later to the Executive. Tho shipping people seem to consider the proceedings of tho Union ridiculous, and that thei ■ action will have no public, sympathy whatever.