DRIVERS' AWARD.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15752, 20 November 1916, Page 7

DRIVERS' AWARD.

NOTICE OF STRIKE IN AUCKLAND. 'TRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND.. November 19. At a mass meeting of members of the Drivers' Union, hold this afternoon, it was resolved that the following notice bo sent to tho Minister of Labour: — "It is with the deepest regret that '.ve have now to advise you that seven days from this date the drivers of this district will declare a strike. The time for such act will operate from the expiration of the old award. ••We fully real;if the seriousness of takiiitr this action, but we have a duty to perform, not only to ourselves, but to our wives; and children, whom we consider are entitled to better maintenance and a better home lile than we are now able to give them, owing to the very low rate oi wage ivi- receive.

"Further, we con.-itler that we would be lacking iti manhood if we submitted to the terms and conditions laid down in the award, which places the standard of drivers 40 per cent, lower than that ■of any other trade or calling.'"' Delegates are to proceed ;o Wellington to-morrow, and other centres are being invited to take like action. CAN TE K BI" R Y I" NlO N. •SUPPORT'S NORTHERN DEMANDS. A general meeting of the Canterbury Drivels' Union wa> held at the Trades Hall on Friday night, Mr J. D. Fraser presiding over a very large attendance of meralicis. Correspondence was received from the Auckland and Wellington Drivers Unions relative to the dissatisfaction existing in. connexion with the Dominion award for drivers recently issued by the Court. It was unanimously resolved to endorse the protests made by the Drivers' Unions in other centres and to make common cause with them in a united effort to obtain redress.

It was deckled to join tho newly formed Transport Workers' Federation and to inform Mr A. l'arlanc, secretary of the Drivers' Federation, Wellington, that the Canterbury Drivers' Union is in favour of the Drivers' Federation immediately linking up with all other transport workers' organisations, as tho drivers, after having failed to obtain justice from the Arbitration Court, must resort to other measures to obtain relief. It was further resolved : — (a) "That this meeting of Canterbury drivers having fully considered tho recent award made by tlie Arbitration Court, in. connexiou with tho drivers of the Dominion, is of opinion that the Arbitration Court is simply a bulwalk of protection for the exploitation of the working class .and the perpetuation of sweated conditions of employment and no longer merits the confidcnee of Labour organisations.'' (b) "That this meeting strongly urges the Government to at once appoint a commission to enquiro into all the facts in connexion wth the drivers' dispute, as in our opinion the Court's decision is wholly biased in the employers' favour and against the weight of evidence submitted." (c) "That all other unions he approached with a view to securing their support to enable drivers to obtain a more reasonable wage than £2 12s and £2 l(3s for o2 hours and 56 hours' work per week, respectively- 3 ' (d) "Further, as the drivers of the Dominion have been striving for many years to obtain payment for all time worked, including attendance upon horses, we affirm that there shall bo no industrial peace until this important principle is conceded and drivers placed upon tho same basis as all other classes of workers."