OTAHUHU STRIKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1938, Page 5

OTAHUHU STRIKE

MEN DECIDE TO RETURN TO WORK VOTE AT MASS MEETING. NEGOTIATIONS TO BE OPENED AT ONCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 6. The expectations that the 1600 men, who have been idle since Wednesday at the Otahuhu railway workshops, would resume work tomorrow were realised on Saturday afternoon, when the decision of a mass meeting of the men was announced. It was stated by the management that the ' men would return to work on Monday unconditionally. Among the men, however, it was understood that the resumption of work was only on condition that negotiations concerning the dispute were settled within seven days.

A statement was made at the meeting by delegates from Wellington that these negotiations would be opened as early as possible, on Monday morning. The negotiations will be held between the Federation of Labour, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and the Government. The decision to return to work was made by a large majority. The men began their meeting about 11*30 a.m. and did not disperse until nearly 2 o’clock.

The meeting was called as the result of the decision of the national executive of the Federation of Labour to enter into the dispute because, it is believed, of a decision to endeavour to confine the dispute to Otahuhu. Representatives of the federation, the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen’s Association, and the Boilermakers’ Federation arrived from Wellington by the Limited express. This delegation, comprising Mr F. P. Walsh, of the national executive of the federation, Mr E. Warner, of the Boilermakers’ Federation, Mr L. Mcllvride, of the A.S.R.S., and Mr S. Ingram, of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, attended the meeting of the men at Otahuhu. Their purpose was a return to the work under the conditions laid down by the Minister of Railways, Mr Sullivan, who had given an assurance that immediately that was done negotiations would be opened. Other outside officials also present were Messrs W. Cuthbert, T. Stanley and T. Anderson, representing the Auckland branch of the Federation of Labour. Mr Petrie, M.P., was present, but did not speak.