CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25739, 26 February 1949, Page 6

CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE

Unions Refuse Support CRITICISM OF TACTICS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, February 25. Three unions of workers connected with the building industry have voted against supporting the Auckland branch of the Carpenters’ Union in its dispute with the master builders. The Auckland Painters’ Union, by an overwhelming majority at a special meeting to-night, condemned the branch’s tactics. It is understood that the Auckland branch of the North Island Electrical Workers’ Union also decided to-night not to support the carpenters. The Auckland branch of the Plumbers' Union decided not to take any action in the dispute. These were three of the allied trades of the union which were asked to support the proposal for a stopwork meeting in Carlaw Park on Wednesday morning. The suggestion came from a meeting of the union’s executive last Monday. After the meeting of the Painters’ Union, the following statement was issued by the president (Mr A. J. Carpenter) and the secretary (Mr F. Williams): "At a special meeting of the union called by circular, a precis of the carpenters’ dispute was given by the secretary of the Auckland branch of the Carpenters’ Union (Mr D. McEwen), who spoke and answered questions for approximately threequarters of an hour. After the retirement of the carpenters’ representatives from the meeting, the question of the relationship of the carpenters’ dispute and the policy of the Auckland Painters’ Union was fully discussed. The following resolution, was moved: ‘That this union not concur in the present attitude of the Carpenters’ Union and condemn its illegal tactics.’ This motion was carried bv 101 to 21 votes.”

A daily wage total of more than £2300 is being lost by the carpenters as a result of the dispute. Many of the 1500 men who were dismissed for going slow have found other work in their own trade and unskilled occupations. Others have taken work in the country.