POWER BOARD WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22376, 13 April 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

POWER BOARD WORKERS

OBJECTION TO PROPOSED

AWARD

TTMARIT STAFF REPUDIATES DEMANDS

fZHE MESS Special Service.]

TIMARU, April 12.

Because of alterations made by the union in Christchurch to their demands lor a new award without reference to the men concerned, the held staff of the South Canterbury Electric Power Board became so incensed toat they have repudiated suen demands. In making a report to inis euect to a meeting of toe Doard to-day, tne chairman (.Mr G. i>a saj said mat a representative of tne men desired toe ooard to Know that me claim put forward did not present their wianes. kor many years, ran me report submitted oy the finance committee, the board had an award wtuen appued to itself, omv it gave the hoard me privilege of war King its men overtime, compensation oemg allowed by time off. in the claim now before the board the reason for me special award nad been ignored. Tne award being made was a try-on, m the hope 01 pavmg the way througn me board to special concessions in the general award. 11 the board conceded wnat was asked it would be held up as me reason why other boards should be made to pay the same rates. The committee suggested that the board oppose the special award or agreement lor me board only, and demand to be included in any general or provincial award. Put briehy, the men asked to be paid up to £2 a week more, to work lewer days a year, to have their house rent lowered, and to receive their electricity for nothing. To the old classification of maintenance men, linesmen and assistants, labourers, workers, and casual erapolyees, were added the area officer, testing electrician, inspector, and storeman. The changes asked were scandalously unjust to some of the board’s men. Where one would get a rise of £lB 4s a year another would get £ll7. A man in charge of a small district was to be awarded a rise of £lO4, while a man in charge of a large district was to receive a rise of £52 only. The claim as set out would mean an addition of £1579 yearly. It was recommended by tffe committee that a telegram be sent to the Electric Power Boards’ Association, Wellington. advising that the outdoor staffs’ award had expired and that the new demands presented were preposterous. It was suggested that a special award should be avoided, and that the board should come under the Dominion or provincial award. The board desired advice from the association. Since the finance committee meeting had been held he had received further information about the demands, said the chairman. The proposed agreement delivered to the board from Christchurch was repudiated by the board's employees. It was not the agreement sent forward from Timaru from the conference of South Canterbury Electric Power Board employees. On receiving a copy of the demands made to the board its employees officially wrote repudiating the whole thing as being contrary to their desires. The report was adopted.