"CRISIS REACHED."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 245, 16 October 1929, Page 7

"CRISIS REACHED."

TRAMWAYS DISPUTE. MASS MEETINGS CALLED. TROUBLE OVER AGREEMENT. POLICY OF BOARD WANTED. The prolonged dispute between the Auckland Transport Board and the Tramwaymen's and Omnibus Employees' Union has reached a crisis. This opinion was expressed by the executive of the union at a special meeting yesterday, when it was decided to call special mass meetings of the men at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. 011 Sunday to consider the following matters: (1) The attitude of the Transport Board as it affects the union and its members. (2) The increased salaries given to highly paid officials, while the earning capacity of the rank and file is being reduced, and the agreement between the board and the union is being flouted in respect to the permanent way and overhead departments.

(3) The question of appointing a strong deputation to wait on the board at Tts next meeting requesting the board to definitely define its policy in respect to the agreement; and the action to be taken by the union failing satisfaction being received by the deputation. (4) The action of the management in appointing junior men to the positions of gangers in the overhead department. History of Deadlock. The deadlock between the authorities controlling Auckland transport and the union originally arose out of the Thomas Massicks appeal case, when six unionists were willing to give evidence against Massicks, but were not called upon. Soon afterwards the union passed a resolution, which "viewed with strong disapproval and apprehension the action of members lending their assistance to the management in cases taken up by the union." Subsequently the board called on the union to expunge this minute from its books, but the instruction was opposed on the grounds that the board had no right to interfere with the private affairs of the union. A majority of the board held that the minute was improper, in that it contained an element of. intimidation. The next move by the board was to propose that the parties should arbitrate, but this suggestion was cast aside by the union, which claimed there was nothing requiring arbitration. Still later the board decided to withdraw its assessors, who were appointed to negotiate for a new agreement, this step being tantamount to a severance of relations. The agreement made between the union and the City Council expired on December 3, 1928, but provided "that, notwithstanding the expiration of the currency of the agreement, it shall continue in force until a new agreement has been duly entered into." Does Agreement Exist? The secretary of the union (Mr. J. Liddell) stated this morning that advice had been received that the board con: sidered the agreement was no longer in existence. The agreement, however, was mutually made and signed by the manager of the tramways department (Mr. A. E. Ford) and the chairman (Mr. J. A. C. Allum), and the department had since been absorbed by the Transport Board. The board, added Mr. Liddell, had adhered strictly to the agreement so far as general conditions and wages wers concerned, except in the case of the engegement of men on the repair way and overhead departments, whom it was debarring from becoming members of the union which provided for them, and was forcing them to become members of the Local Bodies' Union, which neither covered them directly nor indirectly. The trouble had been actuated by the Massicks appeal case, but the whole matter had now come to a crisis, and the board would be called upon to define its policy so far as the agreement was concerned.