CASE FOR PAY INCREASE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25160, 16 April 1947, Page 6

CASE FOR PAY INCREASE

Federation Defers Proceeding DOUBT ABOUT REGULATION

Reports of a decision by the Federation of Labour not to proceed at present with an application to the Arbitration Court for a pronouncement increasing standard rates of wages by a sum equivalent to £1 a week, were confirmed by officials off the Canterbury Trades Council of the federation yesterday.

An application that the Court pronounce an increase of 6d an hour in unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled rates of wages, with a percentage increase for females and youths, was filed on March 26, by the federation under an amendment to the Economic Stabilisation Emergency Regulations, gazetted on March 13. However, no date for the hearing of the application has been asked for by the federation; and it is now most unlikely that action will be taken until after the annual conference of the federation in June, although a special conference of the national council of the federation has been called for May 7. Most workers were led to believe that the application would be heard in April, and settlements in many award disputes have been held up pending an announcement by the Court. No application for a general order was made, as in the opinion of the Government and the federation s national council such an application could not be made.

“An application for a pronouncement increasing standard rates of wages has been filed; but no date for the hearing by the Court has yet been requested, because of the difference of opinion that has arisen in the industrial movement over the meaning of the regulations.” said Mr A. B. Grant, secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council, when he was questioned. “The national council of the Federation of Labour is being called together on May 7 for a special meeting.” “I have not the slightest doubt myself that the best interests of the lower paid workers would be served by the Federation of Labour taking immediate advantage of the terms of the present regulation,” said Mr H. G. Kilpatrick, vice-president of the Trades Council, who was approached, in the absence in Wellington of the president (Mr John Roberts). “That the matter has been held up is most regrettable, and. in my opinion, is due to a lot or unnecessary confusion among people who should know better. On this issue, there is a clear line of demarcation between those who are striving for' a general order of £1 a week, regardless, and those who realise that the time is long past when a special effort should be made to improve the lot of the substandard workers, who have been left well behind in the struggle for higher wages. Unfortunately, many workers in the latter group are supporting the first group, to their own disadvantage. “The unfortunate result of all this is that many awards awaiting settlement have been deferred until the terms of the wage increases are known,” Mr Kilpatrick said. The new clause in the amendment to the Economic Stabilisation Emergency Regulations read:— “At the time of making any pronouncement under Regulation 39b hereof, or at any time thereafter, the Court, for the purpose of giving effect to the pronouncement, may of its pwn motion, or-on application made in that behalf by any party to any award or industrial agreement that is in force when the pronouncement is made, amend the provisions of any such award or industrial agreement relating to rates of remuneration in such manner as the Court thinks fit, having due regard to any increases in the rates of remuneration of the workers affected by such award or industrial agreement granted by the Court since March 17, 1945, and having due regard also to the proper relationship with the rates of remuneration of other workers or classes of workers (whether fixed by any award, apprenticeship order, or industrial agreement, or otherwise). “In .making any amendment under this regulation the Court may, if in its discretion it thinks fit. direct that the amendment shall have effect from such date before the date on which it is made (not being earlier than the date of the pronouncement) as the Court thinks fit.”

Expectations of Unionists If, later, either the federation or a union applies for a pronouncement on standard rates, an increase is granted and the Court proceeds to amend awards accordingly, the increased wages will date only, at the longest, from the date of the pronouncement. The possibility of further delay in receiving wage increases for which they have been pressing is expected to have consequences in the industrial labour movement.

The latest development will be discussed by the Canterbury Trades Council at its meeting to-morrow evening.

The members of a number of unions nave become restive as other groups have secured increases, or, as in the case of the Seamen’s Union, have retained in peace time war-time wages and conditions. Action by the unionists has been held in check by counsel that they might expect some adjustment following a pronouncement of the Arbitration Court. Movement Divided

The industrial movement throughout New Zealand has been divided on the possibilities of the stabilisation amendment, the purpose of which, the late Minister in charge of Stabilisation (Mr D. G. Sullivan) announced, was “to facilitate a rapid adjustment of wage rates.” Delay in making an application occurred because the national council of the federation did not understand the full meaning of the regulation, and since then confusion has apparently arisen in the various trades councils, giving, some union leaders say, a group in Wellington close to the Government and opposed to any changes in stabilisation, an opportunity to delay proceedings for a wage increase.

There are other groups. The first is that which is demanding a wage increase of £1 a week, which the present amendment to the regulation does not give them. Neither does the regulation, nor could it, require the Arbitration Court to increase wages by £1 a week. This group has been demanding an alteration of the regulation. Another group, anxious to bring the sub-marginal workers up to what they consider a decent level, considers that that can be done by using the present regulations. Another group, whose members would profit by the present regulation, believe that their best interests would be served by demanding a general order increasing wages by £1 a week.