CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25735, 22 February 1949, Page 6

CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE

UNIONISTS TO MEET TODAY SUPPORT PLEDGED BY OTHER TRADES (P.A.) AUCKLAND. February 21. About 1500 carpenters are likely to parade outside the Auckland Town Hall to-morrow morning and, carrying placards, will march down Queen street to the Social Security Department’s offices to ask for unemployment benefits. A mass meeting of members of the Auckland branch of the Carpenters’ Union will be held in the Town Hall at 8.30 a.m. to discuss their dispute with the builders, and their dismissal after their use of go-slow tactics. A proposal will be put to the meeting that the men should march to the Social Security Department’s offices. The national secretary of the union (Mr Roy Stanley) will address ’ the meeting. One recommendation for the meeting to consider will be that a meeting of carpenters’ wives should be held so that the dispute can be explained to them. If this is adopted, a women’s meeting may be held on Wednesday morning, if the deadlock continues until then.

A mass stop-work meeting of unionists in trades allied to the building industry may be held on Wednesday morning of next week. "Carpenters Have Just Case” Executives of building unions, as well as representatives of the Waterside Workers’ and Drivers’ Unions, met at midday to-day to discuss the building dispute. The executives represented the Painters,’ Plumbers,’ Gasfitters,’ Labourers.’ Brickworkers,’ Electricians,’ and Roof Tilers’ Unions. It was decided unanimously that, having heard the Carpenters’ Union dispute outlined by Mr Stanley, the executives were of the opinion that the carpenters had a just case, and that the executives’ unionists should be recommended that the fullest support be given to the Carpenters’ Union. It was further agreed that, to obtain the full endorsement of members, the representatives considered that a mass stop-work meeting should be held in Carlaw Park at 8 a.m. on Wednesday week. This recommendation will be put to the unions in the next few days. The Auckland branch of the Plasterers’ Union has already given authority for the calling of a special meeting, to take the form of g stopwork meeting. - if necessray. It was also decided that the Timber Workers Union and any oUjer interested union should be invited to take part in the mass meeting. The secretary of the Auckland branch of the Carpenters’ Union (Mr D. McEwen) said that the union’s Wellington branch had voted £450 to a “lock-out fund,” and advised that further financial support was being organ ised.