AUCKLAND BUILDING WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24116, 27 November 1943, Page 7

AUCKLAND BUILDING WORKERS

DECISION AGAINST STRIKE (P.A.) AUCKLAND. November 26. • The largest stopwork meeting ever held'in New Zealand was attended by <SOO workers associated with the building and allied trades, who met in the Town Hall to-day to discuss the Government’s action in revoking the order relating to the payment of fares and travelling time. It was decided by a large majority that in view of the fact that the war necessitated the continuation of production no strike action should be taken in the pieantime, in spite of the deeo dissatisfaction prevailing. The workers’ representatives (Messrs R. Stanley and F. Craig) were instructed to continue negotiations with the Government, and it was dec’ded that another stopwork meeting should be held on Saturday morning of next week to hear their report. The dispute particularly concerns those engaged on essential buildings covered by the special Government order made about 15 months ago covering defence construction workers. Cause of Dispute Dissatisfaction had arisen among building trade workers in Auckland because of the revoking of the Essential Building Workers’ Labour Legislation Order. 1943. No.. 1. which provided for travelling, time and fares. ■ This action, taken by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) would result, it was stated, in a loss to the workers of 4d a day in fares and a quarter of an hour’s travelling time, equal to in some cases, or approximately 6s 6d a week in the aggregate. ■