EMPLOYING PLUMBERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 10

EMPLOYING PLUMBERS.

MASTERS VERSUS UNION.

MEN'S POSITION STATED.

"SPIRIT OF REVENGE" ALLEGED

The attitude of the Auckland Master Plumbers' Association in offering to assist journeymen plumbers to positions is resented by the union, as it is interpreted to indicate that the employers are endeavouring to make a close corporation of conditions in the trade.

The day following the association's offer by advertisement, the union urged its members seeking engagement to register with its secretary (Mr. J. Clark). "For obvious reasons," it was stated, "members are advised not to take notice of the advertisement by the Master Plumbers' Association regarding registering unemployment." The "obvious reasons," while not broadcasted to the pufblic, were explicitly explained in a subsequent "circular issued by the union to its members. It was alleged that the employers' organisation was endeavouring: (1) to break up the unity of the plumbers' union; (2) to lower wages; (3) to have a number of men on hand from whom they might pick and choose; (4) to improve -the status of 1 their association and cause outside employers to join; and (5) to break up any combination the union might have to improve conditions.

In discussing the situation that has arisen, Mr. Clark said the union "made no bones" about its attitude, although it was willing to co-operate with the employers in placing men, on similar terms to those that exist between the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and the Ironmasters' Federation. In the case of the latter organisations absolute hannony exists, all workers register with their secretary (Mr. R. F. Barter) and employers requiring men apply to him direct. Co-operation Desired. According to Mr. Clark the Plumbers' Union wishes to work with the employers, but the latter are opposed to the scheme. An amicable arrangement had operated in the trade up till the time when the master plumbers joined the Employers' Association. The employers had never previously advertised for journeymen, and he alleged that their reason for so doing at the present time was because they desired to make a close corporation of the trade. Of the 125 master plumbers in the Auckland district, explained Mr. Clark, only 61 belong to the association—less than 50 per cent of their numbers. The bone of contention is hk (ffadoo, ni Hiat

| journeymen had been giving their atvices to builders and the general patb as they could get better conditions by so doing than by working for marina of the Master Plumbers' Association. Mr. Clark also suggested that the employers' attitude had been actuated by "a spirit of revenge" because of tk I union's opposition to their policy of endeavouring to promote a corporation, lit was only reasonable from the mnorii point of view that its members ahndi I maintain their present status and kl [able to offer their services where Q",r: choose.

In the period that the Master Plumbers' Association has placed fifteen journeymen in positions, the union la* found employment for 40 others. Conditions of the trade have improved appreciably since the end of last year, what Mr. Clark had 50 unemployed men on his books. To-day there are only 15of his applicants idle, the most unfortunately situated man having ltd M work Bince May 14.