GO-SLOW POLICY OF CARPENTERS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25422, 19 February 1948, Page 3

GO-SLOW POLICY OF CARPENTERS

UNION WARNING ABOUT VICTIMISATION CP.A.) WELLINGTON, February 18. The Wellington Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union, fortified by the decision of yesterday’s mass meeting, will not hesitate to declare any firm “black” immediately should an instance of victimisation occur in connexion with the go-slow policy. This was announced to-day by officials of the union, who added that the transfer of workers from a job where go-slow tactics were fostered would be regarded as victimisation. There had been no reports of the blacklisting of any building firms in Wellington and Hutt Valley. A cause of dissatisfaction among union officials is. they say, the knowledge that the master builders are not united in their refusal to pay a minimum rate of 3s B£d an hour instead cf 3s 7d, without the authority of the Arbitration Court.

With one exception, builders in Christchurch are, according to the union, paying a minimum of 3s B£d an •hour, and the employer who is not doing so has been given until Friday to comply with the union’s demand, failing which, the union declares, the job will be declared “black.” Some employers in the Auckland and Wellington areas are reported by the union to be paying the additional rate. NdRMAL' DUTIES AT FREEZING WORKS (P.A.) MASTERTON, February 18. “We wish to state that the carpenters employed at the Waingawa freezing works have not gone slow at any time, ’ said Mr E. G.. Norman, a director of Thos. Borthwick and Sons. Ltd., today. Mr Norman was referring to a published report about a meeting of the Masterton Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union.