POWER BOARD DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25364, 11 December 1947, Page 6

POWER BOARD DISPUTE

AUCKLAND WORKERS STRIKE CONDITIONS OF MAN’S EMPLOYMENT (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 10. A strike of works employees of the Auckland Electric Power Board began to-day after a stop-work meeting in the morning. The men stopped work after hearing that the board had imposed certain conditions on the employment of the chairman of the employees’ works committee (Mr A. Petrie). The executive committee of the Electrical Workers’ Union met tonight, and its recommendations about the possible withdrawal of sub-station operators, Which wcfuld probably dislocate the power supply, will be placed before a meeting. The disputes committee of the Auckland Trades Council to-day asked for an opportunity to discuss the strike and th/? appointment of a garage superintendent with the board, but the chairman (Mr S. I. Crookes) pointed out that the next meeting of the board was on Monday. The committee was also in touch with the Government, with the result that the secretary of the Department of Labour (Mr H. L. Bockett) will be in Auckland to-mor-row to hold discussions.

The stop-work meeting of employees immediately before the strike had been called to discuss the appointment of a garage superintendent, and although this matter was considered and a resolution passed, the decision to strike was on the question of Mr Petrie’s employment. The men that until such time as the threat of suspension of Mr Petrie was withdrawn by the board they would not resume work. It was stated that this decision was made by a secret ballot, 149 men voting for the strike and 15 against.