STATE MINES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 July 1940, Page 6

STATE MINES

STRIKE OVER DISMISSAL OF TRUCKER. FIVE HUNDRED MEN IDLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH. July 1. After a dispute over the employment of a trucker at the Liverpool mine, the three State mines in the Runanga district, the Liverpool, James and Strongman mines, employing more than 500 men, came out on strike this morning. The trucker was dismissed about three weeks ago for allegedly tying a knot in a jig rope. The rope was ruined and production in the place was slowed up. The union disagreed with the dismissal, arguing that the lad dismissed was not proved to be the person responsible. The dispute was referred to a conference between the management and the union, and. with Mi’ J. O Brien. M.P.. as independent chairman, the conference took place on Saturday evening. The men contend that the chairman's decision was I hat the trucker was to bo reinstated, but Ute management disagrees. The trucker arrived for work at Liverpool this morning, but was not allowed to resume, and the men forthwith decided to return home. The Strongmail and James mines commenced the morning shift, but. on receiving advice of the miners' decision at Rewanui. they stopped work about 11 a.m. Thus all three mines are on strike and 500 men arc idle because of a dispute over one trucker. The State Mines office at Dunollie today stated that negotiations between the union and the management were in progress, but that no inlormation was available as to when the mines would resume.