A Strike in Gisborne.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 456, 20 May 1890, Page 3

A Strike in Gisborne.

THE WHARF LABORERS CALLED OUT. PROBABLE BEBULT-INCBEASE OF FREIGHTS. A irm.s sensation was caused in town yesterday, when a report got abroad that the wharf hands had been called out by order of the Federated Laborers* Union. Very ccaflicting stcries were told of how the trouble had come about, and Standard reporters were despatched to enquire into the matter, the result of which is that the following simple statements are given to allow our readers to form their own judgment on the affair. The first gentleman interviewed wan—tks rsaniKTMr D. McLeod, President of the local branch of the Wharf Laborers’ Union, states :—For some time past we have been trying to arrange matters amicably with Messrs Kennedy and Evans, but they have only treated the Union with contempt. On one occasion I waited on Mr Kennedy, and he ■aid he would not recognise us, and in fact went so far as to say that he would rather tie up the lighters than make any concession. Before the delegates met at the Ute eonthere Was no bye-Uw in regard to rtaditeade, and Napier and GUbeme

were the only ports in the colony which I required lighters, but a special bye-law has been framed for Gisborne, which fixes the rate of wages at Is 3d per hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and before or af'er that time overtime shall be claimed at the rate of 2s per hour. This morning (Monday) the Secretary (Mr Greame) and I waited on Mr Evans at his office, but as Captain Kennedy was not present we asked that he should be called in, so that we could inform them personally of the rate of wages which the Union had fixed for this port. Mr Evans said that his partner’s time was valuable, and that he was not going tel eave his work to attend to them. I considered that this was another slight on the Union, so I arranged with the Secretary that the men

SHOULD STOP UNLOADING the lighters. Accordingly the men were informed that Messrs Kennedy and Evans would not come to any arrangement and that in the memtime they would have to st' p work, which they did. Captain Kennedy, who was standing by, defied them by saying he would nor pay the overtime c’oimed. So that the public should not be put to any inconvenience by the men knocking off. it has been arranged that all the cargo in the lighters will be discharged this afternoon. In Napier the overtime is paid at the rate of 2s 6d per hour. Of course the men will not attempt to work after to day until Messrs Kennedy and Evans have agreed to pay the Union wages. MB DOTOHEBTY'S OPINION. A representative of the Standard also called at the office of Mr Dougherty, the popular Gisborne agent of tha Union Steamship Company. As usual he appeared very willing to afford every facility for obtaining information, though he observed a commendable discretion, which gave one the idea that he did not wish to be free with his own opinions lest he should say anything that would retard a settlement nf matters. “ What is all this trouble with the Union

Company was the question put to Mr Dougherty. “Oh, there is no trouble with us,” he replied. “It is with the lighterers that the conflict has taken place.” Mr Dougherty then went on to explain that Messrs Kennedy and Evans had a contract for lightering the Union Company's boats when they came into the bay. Formerly that firm employed a few men on weekly wages, keeping them on regularly and fin ling something for them to put their time in at when there was no lightering work to do, work that was only available for a couple nf short periods in the week. Since the Lumpers’ Union came into force complications have arisen. The rules of that body are that Is 64 should be pail from 8 a.m. tilt 5 p.m. and 2s 6d from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. In a roadstead) port like this that was an absurdity, the] lighter-' having to work to suit the tide, and being often detained outside for hours, when I the actual work itself was done in a very short time. When Mr Evans went down Sou'.h he had an interview with tbe officers at the head of the organisation, and pointed out the unreasonableness of the thing, and it was decided to make a bye-law applying to such ports. The rale fixed was Is 3d during the ordinary hours and 2s an bout overtime, the time of payment to commence from the moment the lighter has swung off from the wharf, bornetimes tbe boats are out there for a long time waiting for the tides, but the men's pay goes on all tbe same. Reporter: What is your opinion on the principle of Unionism ? Mr Dougherty : I think it is very good in itself, but it is monstrous applying hard and fast rules to such a port as Gisborne, where the quantity of cargo to be lightered is so small. Before a number of men got steady employment, but now it means that a precarious method has been adnpted, which, though the pay may be higher, has the disadvantage for the men that they can only be engaged when there is the work to be done. In any sense it is unfortunate thing for the district that such a conflict should have occurred, because their appears to be no alternative than tn increase the freight. What is the simple explanation of the present grievance ? Mr Dougherty: One can hardly understand what there is. The men have so far been paid the Is 3d an hour as settled by the Laborers’ Union, and as there has yet been no necessity for overtime that question has not come up, and I think the Secretary has acted very precipitately in thus forcing it on. It would be quite time enough tto take action if it were found that the overtime would not be paid. What do you think the ultimate effect of the Union rates will be ?

Mr Dougherty : I suppose it will mean an increase in freight—l cannots.e whaielse can be done. Messrs Kennedy and Evans have applied to us for an increase of 25 per cent, on the sum paid for lighterage, and also for all overtime, Tbat means that tbe general public will be called upon to make up the rxtra cost ? Mr Dougherty ; There seems to be nothing else for it.

THE SICBETABI BETICENT. A Standabd reporter waited on Mr Greame, the Secretary of the local branch of the Laborers’ Union, but that gentleman was very reticent, though why he should have been so is not explainable on the face of things. All that could be elicited from h ; m was the assertion that Messrs Kennedy and Evans had stated tbat they cannot agree to )ay the wages regula'ed by the Lumpers’ Jnion until they (Messrs Kennedy and Evans) had made other arrangem nts with the U.S.S. Company. But, he added, there had been some misunderstanding over the affair. MB EVANS* VIEW OF THE MATTKB.

Mr Evans stated his side of the case very simply. When the local Union was first created, good steady hands whom they had in their employ for about six years, had to take the alternative of joining the Union, or being in the position that they would not be able, in case they required it, to get work at any other port in New Zealand. At first the Union said there would be no interference if the men were employed by the week, and tha’ was satisfactory to the men. The avetage amount earned was £2 161 a week, and sometimes a couple of days in the week there was nothing to do. But the other members objected to the principle, and held out for an equalisation of the labor. At first the rate applicable to ordinary ports was asked for, but when he (Mr Evans) was in Wellington he had an interview wiih the Union. They said they would gladly give him every opportunity In that respect. They are, said Mr Evans, a very sensible and seemingly reasonable body of men, with, their heads screwed on the right way. I was given a patient hearing, and my statement of the unfairness of imposing Buch rates at a port like Gisborne was attentively listened to. They said of course they could not allow me to be present while the matter was being discussed, they admitted that the circumstances were different to those which applied at other ports, and they further assured me that their decision would be one that was fair to a port like that of Gisborne. On Friday I received a letter which had been written on the 6th inst., posted on the 9th, marked at Napier post office on the 12th, and delivered to me on Friday. In contained an ultimatum that the rate for Gisborne would be an increase of 25 per cent, on the ordinary rate and 100 per cent, on the rate being paid for overtime. This morning (Monday) the Secretary of the local branch called on me, and said to call Captain Kennedy as he wished an answer to the letter. I told him that Captain Kennedy was then busy—it would have meant leaving half a dozen men idle by him quitting work at that moment. Mr Greame was peremptory and demanded an answer there and then. I offered to write a reply, but that would not satisfy him, and he said he would call the men out, which he then went and did, and work ceased. The letter did not state when the rule was to come into force, and I telegraphed to the head office for information. In the meantime the men were being paid the rate stipulated for ordinary time, no overtime work being required. I met Mr Greame subsequently in the street, and asked him if he did not think he had acted very precipitately in the matter. I then pointed out to him the postmark on the letter, time of its receipt, and the fact tbat no been stated tor th« rates to ooms into operation. He Mid the letter should have been received, but there •pprared to tea misunderstanding) ahdhe would ms that work waeire* workjWMfn.

sumed, and the matter thus stands—we are at present paying the stipulated rate for ordinary hours, no overtime having yet been done. We are now negotiating with the Union Steamship Company, it being im possible for us to continue work at a loss. What do you think will be the outcome of the rates stipulated by the Laborers’ Union ?

Mr Evans: It amounts to this, that we cannot do the lightering work at a loss—it would be better for us to tie the vessels up than to go on paying the rates asked, without getting an equivalent from the Steamship Company. That, I suppose, will mean there must bean all round rise—that the freights will have to bear the increase. A FINAL DWTEBMINATION. Mr Greame last night informed us that it was decided to allow the lumpers to unload the vessels yesteiday afternoon to prevent inconvenience, but it has now been definitely decided, acting under instructions from head quarters, that no further work will be done unless the terms offered by the Lumpers’ Union are agreed to. He says that Captain Kennedy yesterday informed him that they could not accede to the terms of the Union unless the Shipping Company agreed to make good thediffeienoe iu wages, but the Union did not care who made up the difference, though they required that their terms should be agreed to or rejected. The meeting this evening, Mr Greame says, is only an ordinary one.