DISPUTE ON RELIEF JOB

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21314, 6 November 1934, Page 13

DISPUTE ON RELIEF JOB

VICTIMISATION ALLEGED BY UNEMPLOYED Allegations that men had been dismissed from the relief job on the Estuary while fney were negotiating with the council for an alteration in their rates of pay were made by a deputation which waited on the Christchurch City Council last evening. The deputation, sent by the Canterbury Unemployed Workers' Association, requested that trade union rates of pay be granted for bridge work on the job. There were two delegates from the Causeway and two from the Ferrymead job. For the deputation, Mr S. Fournier said that some of the men concerned in the dispute had been dismissed. These men included some who had been active in negotiations between the men and the council for union rates of pay for bridge work on the job. The authorities knew the men were engaged in the negotiations, and those affected had protested at the time that they were still negotiating. Mr Fournier said that it was the feeling of the men that all engaged on the bridge should get trade union rates. It was realised that the request might embarrass the council, he added, but perhaps the cpuncil might be able to stretch its rating powers so that those who could to pay should assist in providing a reasonable rate of wages for others. Another speaker said that 10 or 12 men were involved in the dispute. The men raised the objection that they wanted union wages before being dismissed. Asked by the Deputy-Mayor (Cr. J. K. Archer) if he could substantiate a suggestion that some of the men were dismissed on political grounds, Mr Fournier said that he could. Cr; J. S Barnett, a member of the Works Committee of the council, who has been acting as chairman, denied that there had been any victimisation. "Although I don't want this to be taken as criticism of these men, I think that the unfortunate thing about these disputes is that the men are very badly led and advised," said the Deputy-Mayor. Cr. Archer suggested that in such cases the men involved might be better advised to approach the council directly themselves. In the case before the council he had been approached originally by a man not himself involved directly in the dispute. It was decided to refer the matter to the works committee with power to act.