PROTEST VOICED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 6

PROTEST VOICED.

" UMBRELLA" DECISIONS.

WORKERS' AGENT'S VIEWS.

(From Onr Correspondent.)

WELLIN GTOIf, Wednesday.

A protest against the proposal that the "umbrella" decisions of the Court of Arbitration should operate was made by Mr. P. M. Butler, the workers' agent, at a sitting of the Conciliation Council which considered the brick, tile, pottery and clay workers' dispute. The workers claimed an increase of 4d an hoar.

Mr. A. W. Nisbet, the employers' agent, said that in its decision in the general labourers' dispute, the Court seen fit to adhere to the old rates of pay, except in one instance, and that being so, it seemed the proceedings now before the Conciliation Council could be shortened by the workers agreeing to accept the counter-proposals of the employers, the existing award, in toto.

"We are not proposing to tak® the basis of the general labourers' award sa the basis for all other workers, although employers 110 doubt would like it," said Mr. Butler. "The workers in each indav try are entitled to have Itiieir as* decided on its merits.

"The Court has listened to the employers, and it is time the Government took action to see that every case ia dealt with on its merits," he said. He added that he was pleased he had been given an opportunity of condemning "umbrella" decisions. When the 40-hour week was introduced every case wag fought on its merits, and there were so "umbrella" decisions.