SHIPS HELD UP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1938, Page 6

SHIPS HELD UP

DEMANDS BY AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS

STARTING TIME AND WAGES DISPUTE. ACTION BY THE EMPLOYERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 3. As a result of the refusal of members of the Auckland Waterside Workers Union to handle cargo on the Union Company’s ships Waiana and Kaimiro unless claims concerning starting time and wages were settled, work ceased on both vessels today. Conferences between the Port of Auckland’ Shipping and Stevedores’ Association and representatives of the union yielded no result and, intimating that the award provided for the settlement of all disputes on constitutional lines without stoppage of work, the association announced that no further labour will be engaged on the waterfront until the terms of'the award are complied with. At the conclusion of the conference, the president of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr R. G. Jones, said that he did not regard the position as serious. He added that- a, meeting of the union would be held tomorrow morning, and he hoped that- an early solution would be found for the disputes. An explanation of the disputes was given this afternoon in a statement issued by Captain Lewis, chairman of the Shipping- and Stevedores’ Association. It'was stated that on Wednesday, the day of the usual monthly meeting of waterside workers, six gangs were ordered for. 10 a.m. at the Waiana, there being no room for more until 63 motor-cars had been discharged. Three additional gangs were ordered for a start- at- 1 p.m;, but- at 1 p.m. the original six gangs and the three extra gangs-, all- refused to turn to unless all hands were paid from 10 a.m. The ship was closed up, but started again at 8 o’clock this morning. Dealing with the-dispute in the Kaimiro, the statement said that at 8 a.m. today, because of rain, eight gangs were ordered for a 9 a.m. start, but when the men arrived on the job they refused to turn to unless paid from 8 a.m. A local disputes committee meeting was held this morning when the employers and the union failed to reach any agreement on the dispute in the Waiana. At 1 o’clock this afternoon men engaged, for the Waiana refused to continue work.

“The employers are not concerned in these, cases with the disputes,” the statement, added, “for there is adequate and expensive machinery available to deal with such matters. However, they are very concerned with the direct action taken by the men, apparently backed up by their executive, as the essence of the Waterside Workers’ Award is that the work of the employers shall continue at all times and that all disputes shall be settled on constitutional lines. It is decided that no further labour will be engaged on the Auckland- waterfront until' the terms of the award are complied with.” The effect of the association’s decision will be that, until work is resumed in the Waiana and Kaimiro, no labour will be engaged to handle cargo in incoming ships when they reach port. No other ships at present at the wharves will be affected, although they will not be able to employ any. additional gangs. The Waiana has general cargo from southern ports and is berthed at Princes Wharf, and the Kaimiro, at King’s Wharf, has cargo from Australia. Both vessels were originally scheduled to leave Auckland tomorrow. No large overseas or coastal ships will reach Auckland tomorrow but an influx is expected at the weekend.

STANDING BY.

MEETING OF UNION HELD. AUCKLAND, This Day After a two hours’ meeting of members of the Waterside Workers’ Urn’on this morning, the gangs that had been engaged for the Union Company’s inter-island steamers Waiana end Kaimiro were instructed by the union to stand by while union officials conferred with the employers. All the men not employed were advised to go home. There are only two large ships in port, the Federal liner Tekoa, and the Montreal liner Kaimata.