SUDDEN STRIKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1938, Page 7

SUDDEN STRIKE

AT OTAHUHU RAILWAY WORKSHOPS OVER SIXTEEN HUNDRED MEN IDLE EMPLOYMENT OF LABOURERS QUESTIONED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 2. As a result of labourers being employed on work which, it was contended, should be undertaken by boilermakers, more than 1600 employees at the Otahuhu railway workshops ceased work today. This action was determined at a mass meeting during the lunch hour and, although- the men remained at the works throughout the afternoon, only apprentices continued at their ordinary employment. The trouble is a development of an acute shortage of skilled boilermakers which has been experienced at the workshops for a considerable time. Fully a year ago differences arose between the boilermakers and the department about the manning of certain jobs. At that time there was a stoppage of work, the men resenting the proposals of the department to employ labourers on machines and other work which boilermakers claimed should be performed by tradesmen only. The differences were adjusted at that time, but it is understood that the shortage of tradesmen persisted. It was found necessary by the management this morning to assign two labourers to work in the boilermakers’ shop, and at 8.30 the boilermakers held a meeting to consider the position. Representations were made to the management, negotiations continuing until the lunch hour, when no satisfactory settlement had been reached.

MASS MEETING .■ ' At this stage the boilermakers decided to acquaint the whole staff of more than 1600 employees with the position. . A largely-attended mass meeting was held, and it was resolved to cease work while certain discussions proceeded with the department. A committee representative of all shops was appointed to handle the matters in dispute, and, with the approval of the men, a skeleton staff remained on duty to continue essential services. Several hundred appren r tices were also not affected and members of the clerical staff, who, are members of the Railway Officers Institute, continued their work. Shunters <at the workshops were unaffected. With the arrival of the night shift of about 70 men, at 4 p.m. the position was explained to them, and they returned to their homes shortly afterwards. Throughout the afternoon a strict measure of control was maintained at the entrance to the works, although idle men were not permitted to leave the wards without a special permit from the management until shortly before 4 p.m., which is the usual hour.tfor leasing;, workq. Similarly’ n 0 ■one was allowed to ‘enter the works except by authority, even a telegraph boy being closely questioned. However, "there was a general exodus of the staff at 4 o’clock, the workers’ trains for northern and southern suburbs leaving according to schedule shortly after. Within half an hour the works were practically deserted and the few unusual traces of excitement previously apparent subsided. THE ISSUE IN DISPUTE Although no statement was issued either by the men or the management, it is understood the issues of the dis- . pute involve the right of the department 'to assign labourers to jobs at rates of wages below the standard pay ment to tradesmen in that particulai shop. Boilermakers are understood to have no objection to this class of work so long as skilled men are not available. The men contend that the employment of non-tradesmen at rates below the standard is tantamount to the infringement of craft principles. The unions covering the men involved in the dispute are the Boilermakers’ Union, the Railway Tradesmen’s Association! and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. The committee appointed today includes representatives of each organisation, and, in addition to local negotiations, union representatives in Wellington discussed the matters in dispute with executive officers of the department. The progress made in the negotia- / tions Will not be known by the men until tomorrow morning. They will assemble at the workshops at the usual hour and at a further mass meeting the position will be discussed in the light of overnight developments.

NO DISCUSSION

UNTIL MEN RESUME WORK STATEMENT BY MINISTER WELLINGTON, This Day. In a statement made in reply to inquiries last evening, the Ministei of Railways, the Hon D. G. Sullivan, said that there would be no discussions until the men had resumed work unconditionally. Subsequently the Government would determine its com se of action in relation to the position that had arisen.