STRIKE IN THE BAKERY TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2701, 4 January 1910, Page 5

STRIKE IN THE BAKERY TRADE.

A GISBORNE DIFFICULTY. BREAD CARTERS REFUSE WORK. The fact that the master bakers decided not to observe a holiday yesterday caused a partial strike of the bread-carriers in Gisborne. The men in the Gisborne Co-operative Bakery Company’s employ turned upto their work, but after holding a consultation they decided not to work. A number of the country carts went cut as usual, but six of the men refused to start. Two were standing in the office shortly after and, according to the information given to a “Times” representative, were seen there by the manageress of the establishment. Alter they had informed her that they wanted a holiday, she naturally got somewhat excited over the affair, as the morning’s bread was lying piled up in the bakehouse. After arguing a time the men still refused to go out, and left, When the employees of the Civil Service Company heard of the trouble tliej 7 also decided to go on strike, after having previously harnessed up and loaded their carts. The men afterwards gathered in Gladstone Road, and several noisy demonstrations were made at one or two passing bakers’ carts. Mr. C. G. Piesse, secretary of the Co-operative Bakery "Company, met the men during the morning and after he had inquired into their grievances a number of them decided to return to work. The three men from the Civil Service Company, however, refused to work. Messrs Clare and Sons also had trouble, as two of their men informed, the firm on Sunday; that they intended to observe the holiday, and their services were dispensed with, and other arrangements made. In speaking to a “Times” representative the men said they were also protesting against the quality of the food supplied to them, declaring that the bread given them was almost blue mouldy. . . The Gisborne broad-carriers are not working under an Arbitration Court award, but at the next sitting of the Court in Gisborne they will apply for an award in connection with the Driv-r-Pj>.vpn. . : ers’ Unumpy^fr.,Cecil F. Lewis, chair-: Last night-Yj -r vi. .Vk man of directors of the Civil Sendee and Citizens’ Co-operative Bakery Co., informed a “Times” representative that as none of the men employed’ by his company are boarded, the bad food question could not apply to them. Farther, he stated that his company paid, their men better than any others in town, indeed better than the award in Auckland, and if they were working under an award they would not be so well treated. The married men wer& also supplied with bread free of charge. Besides this, the men were given their Thursday afternoon off, so that it was hard to say why they had a grievance. Mr. C. G. Piesse states that there was some little dissatisfaction amongst the carters, but that they did not, when interviewed, ask for any increase of wages. The whole trouble, as far as the men of his company were concerned, was all settled in a very few minutes, the carters voluntarily returning to work after having given voice to their grievance, which was principally on account of having to work on the holiday. Mention"" was also made regarding delay in getting their food at the company’s establishment at Waerenga-a-hika, and one or two other minor complaints were made, hut were not seriously considered by either party, as having no direct bearing on the action of the men yesterday morning.