VOLUNTEER TRAM WORKERS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20563, 3 June 1932, Page 16

VOLUNTEER TRAM WORKERS.

THE BOARD'S ATTITUDE. reply to complaints of DISMISSED MEN. Complaints made by a number of the volunteer workers who assisted in running the trams in tho recent tramway strike, and who.se services have been dispensed with by the Tramway Board in obeying the finding of tho tribunal, which laid down that only CO out of 1117 men could be retained permanently, I are replied to in a statement issued by the Trannvay Board yesterday. The complaint of tho men has been that though they were offered permanent work if they helped the Board, they havo now been advised that their services ire to be dispensed with. The Board states that, responding to pressure brought to bear by members of the clergy and other prominent citizens, it surrendered, to u certain extent, its authority in the management oi the tramway service, Tho i'ull statement of the Board is as follows: — "As there seems to be some uncertainty in the public mind as to the standing of the Board in relation to the men who were employed dunug the strike, and who have now been dismissed from its service in accordance with the findings of the chairman of the Strike Tribunal, it seems to be appropriate that tho Board should make a statement of the position. . "Immediately upon the decision 01 the Tramway 1 Union that there should he a strike it became tlie duty of the Board to provide for the continuance of the service with as little delay as possible.

Engaging the New Men. •' A proportion of the men already in tho servico declared their loyalty to the Board and continued to work. Manv other applications were received, and *ll7 men wero engaged on tho undcrstanding that they should be totaincd in the set-vice under tho provisions of tho Industrial Agreement if fliey proved to be eligible and satisfactory. , '•'Obviously this meant that many or tho men who had struck could not be reinstated in their jobs. '' Thereupon great ■ pressure was brouglit to bear upon the Board by prominent clergymen and other citizens and after lengthy discussions it was agreed that the matters in dispute should be referred to a tribunal consisting of three representatives of the Board, three of the strikers, and an independent chairman, as provided in the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1913. . "In effect the Board did, to a certain extent, surrender its authority in tho management of the tramway service, which it would not have done but for tho pressure referred to.

Effect of Tribunal's Decision. '' The tribunal decided that of tho 117 new employees up to GO should bo selected for permanent servico under the Industrial 'Agreement, leaving 57 unprovided for. "The Industrial Agreement gives both the Board and tho employee the right to terminate engagement on eight hours' notice. '' It was estimated that_ some or tne 117 would have to be rejected as unsuitable for the service, but after deleting these, there remained a number who were considered suitable, but for 4 whom there would be no jobs available. "In tho ordinary course of events the Board would have retained the services of these men, but it had to obey the decision of the tribunal."

REFUNDING EX-STRIKERS' SUPERANNUATION. CONSIDERABLE SUM INVOLVED. Of the 52 former members oi the Tramway Board's traffic staff who have not been re-employed by the Board, all of whom are entitled to a refund of their superannuation payments, tho first group to be dealt with—2s men—will receive an aggregate refund of £1728 10s after benefits previously received have been deducted. This represents an average of £69 per man. The Board's superannuation scheme is run in conjunction with the National Provident Fund. Membership of the scheme is compulsory and contributions are based on the age of each man and the number of years he has been in the Board's employ. As the Board subsidised the contributions of the men, it will receive a refund of its subsidy for the men dismissed. Though a fund was inaugurated to help those of the volunteer workers who might not be retained in employment by the Board, it is understood that, as the circumstances have been changed Ibv the retention of 60 of these men, I several people who previously undertook to contribute have now refused to ! do so.