HALF=DAY STRIKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1939, Page 7

HALF=DAY STRIKE

RELIEF WORKERS DOWN TOOLS IN AUCKLAND.

QUESTION OF MAN WEARING COAT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. June 15. When a man was dismissed because he refused to obey the foreman’s instruction to take off his coat to start work today. 120 relief workers, engaged by the Newmarket Borough Council under the No 13 scheme on a play ing area in Sarawia Street, held a half-day strike. Negotiations were started immedi ately, and. though the man was not reinstated, the gang resumed work un ■ der protest, pending an explanation being given to the Minister of Labour Mr Webb. The conviction that their fellow worker had been victimised prompter’ the men to walk off the job at 10 a.m. The morning was cold, and the man concerned began work wearing a halflength oilskin. It was stated that when the man refused to take off his coat, the foreman and another off! cer were both wearing overcoats which the workers alleged, was in consistent with the demand on the man. An attempt to induce relief workers employed at the new Olympiad swimming pool to join in the strike was unsuccessful. I Early in the afternoon the man who had been dismissed prevailed on the others to return to work. The men were told by Mr A. G. Os borne. M.P., that the Governmen' would not intervene if they stayed out on strike. It was unanimously decided that the men should return to work under protest, pending a reply from the Minis ter. who should be acquainted with the facts. The Mayor of Newmarket, Mr S. Donaldson, explained that a dispute de veloped among the workers some time ago, and, when it was settled, the coun cil agreed that the men should be allowed half an hour every fortnight t< discuss problems affecting the job Though the arrangement continued there had been no official intimation that the workers were dissatisfied. The foreman’s intimation that morning, before the strike, that someone was look - ing for trouble, appeared,fo have beerwell founded.