A LABOR DISPUTE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2739, 18 February 1910, Page 2

A LABOR DISPUTE.

FLOUR MILLER’S EMPLOYEES “GO OUT.”

[Pnit Press Association. | CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 17. What appears to be a distinct breach of the Concililation and Arbitration law oil the subject of strikes is reported to have occurred on Tuesday evening, at Messrs Wood Bros.’ gram sheds, at Addington. Mr. F. R. Corson, of. Wood Bros., interviewed, stated that at present the firm had not decided whether or not to take action. He added that .at the beginning of last week five of the men who were at the firm’s .grain stores brought under the manager’s notice that other employers were paying a higher wage to laborers in grain stores. They were informed last Saturday, when being paid, that the higher rate was being paid only to special men, and that Wood Bros, were paying their grain carriers the rate provided in the award. On last Monday afternoon the manager communicated with Mr. Corson by telephone to the effect that the men had intimated that they were not going to work, in order to give the firm,an opportunity of further considering the matter. The firm were unable to alter their previous decision, and on Tuesday afternoon the men stated that they were not going to work after that evening, and they did not resume work yesterday morning. According to an authority cn this class of labor the trouble at Wood Bros.’ grain store has arisen out of a recent case brought by the General Laborers’ Union before the Conciliation Council. On that occasion the union agreed with grain store labororers’ 'employers that the rate of (pay should he Is per hour, with the proviso that regular hands should receive a rise, some to 9s per day and. some to 10s per day. As a result some JO of 50 men are getting this increased rate. The men employed at Browne’s and Wood’s stores, claiming that they do the sarnie class of work, are consequently feeling somewhat sore cm the -point. They were at one time under the general laborers’ award, but thinking they could do better themselves, they became members of the Mill Enginedrivers and Mill Employees’' Union. When their case was before the Court they avere only able- to obtain Is. per hour. The -matter culminated when the men knocked off, and declined to work for 8s per day. Mr. H. Hansen, secretary of the Mill Engine-drivers! and Mill Employees’ Union, on being seen, stated that two men belonging to his union, and employed at Messrs Wood Bros.’store, hacl not struck, and the men who had gone on strike did not belong to his union. They were young, unmarried men who, no doubt, would have little difficulty in getting employment. His union had had no trouble in the matter of rates of pay for casual labor in grain sheets. He thought it was to be regretted that the men had gone on strike.

There was no further development of moment in the trouble to-day. The men claim they gave notice of their intention to go off if not paid 9s a day, and did not act in ''concert.