American Samoa's

Policemen Walk

Off The Job

About nine o’clock on the morning of July 12, 60 out of the 89 men in American Samoa’s tiny police force went on strike.

HAVING assembled near the Executive Office and Court House, they shambled down what passes for a main street in Pago Pago and sought an interview with the Commissioner of Public Safety, Mr. Dewey Allen.

Through a spokesman, they told Mr. Allen and the Attorney-General, Mr. Al. Gergely, that they (a) wanted more pay; (b) felt that Mr.

Allen did not treat them with sufficient respect; (c) did not wish to attend the training sessions after working hours that Mr. Allen re quired them to do, and (d) did not wish to work under Mr. Allen.

After Mr. Gergely told them that Mr. Allen (a Hawaii police admini strator) would be retained in his post, the policemen refused to report for duty.

First Case

In a territory where there is no provision in the constitution for in dustrial action, it was the first case of industrial action over wages and conditions on record.

The government’s first reaction was to dismiss the strikers; and it actually advertised for recruits to replace the disgruntled men. Meanwhile, boy scouts were called in to guard public buildings.

The government eventually changed its tune about dismissing the strikers after a legislative investigation committee, which held a day-long hearing, recommended that any of the strikers who wished to return to work should be accepted back on the force.

Ten days after the walk-out, the official daily bulletin reported that 35 of the strikers were back at work, that seven had resigned and 10 had been discharged.

This, it said, left 17 positions to be filled ( PlM’s arithmetic makes it 25) and that more than 160 applications had been lodged to fill the vacancies.

The bulletin added that some of the applicants for the force would be hired “in the near future”.

HELP FOR HOMELESS. An Anglo-French relief party at work on the island of Makura, in the New Hebrides, where 60 people were made homeless in July after a fire wiped out the island's only village. The fire was caused by a kerosene lamp. The relief party took emergency supplies from Vila. Leader is Mr. John R. Todd (second left). Representing the Red Cross is Mrs. Rosemary Leaf. Mr. M. Carlo, of the French District Agency staff, Vila, is at left. — New Hebrides official photo.