GENERAL WAGE APPLICATION

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27064, 12 June 1953, Page 8

GENERAL WAGE APPLICATION

Labour Federation’s Case REVIEW IN LIGHT OF PRICE INDEX (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON; June 11. Within the next few weeks, the New Zealand Federation of Labour will lodge an application with the Court Of Arbitration for a general wage increase. The secretary of the federation (Mr K. McL. Baxter) said today that the all-food price index for May, issued yesterday, would delay the application slightly, and he could give no indication when it would be filed with the Court. Although no general figure has been decided upon as the wage increase to be sought, it is understood that the federation will ask for about 32s a

week to be added as a general wage increase. . The president of the federation (Mr F. P. Walsh) will again conduct the case as advocate. , The federation has been preparing its new wages •case since an amendment to the Economic Stabilisation Regulations was gazetted on May 11. Research officers of the federation have prepared a large volume of statistical data for presentation with the case, but two events in the last few weeks —the release of the May price index and the barmen’s dispute—have delayed matters. The issue of the May price index, showing a rise during the month of 23 points (2.3 per cent.), in the retail price of food, fuel, and lighting, has caused the original figures prepared by the federation to be reviewed. Amended Regulations Under the amended Economic Stabilisation Regulations gazetted last month, the Court, in making a general order, shall take into account any rise or fall in retail prices as indicated by any index published by the Government Statistician. On the surface, the present barmen’s dispute, during which certain hotels in Auckland and Wellington are being boycotted, may appeal* to have little connexion with the federation’s pend-

ing wage case. However, a clause in the amended regulations specifically states that the Court is to have regard to any increases granted by the Court or agreed to by the parties to the award or agreement since the date of the last preceding wage pronouncement made by the Court. The New Zealand Hotel Workers’ Union, in conciliation proceedings last month, sought an increase of 10s a week in wages. The hotel employers offered an increase of ss, which was rejected. As a result, barmen in the Hotel Workers’ Union are now staging their boycotts in Auckland and Wellington.

There is no doubt that the Federation of Labour is endeavouring to delay its wage application until the hotel workers’ dispute is settled, in the hope that any increase agreed to can be quoted in support of its case. ,

Late last week, members of the executive of the federation and the president of the New Zealand Hotel Workers’ Union (Mr F. G. Young) waited as a deputation on the ActingPrime Minister (Mr K. J. Holyoake), the Minister of Justice (Mr T. C. Webb), and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. T. Watts) to discuss the hotel workers’ dispute. It is reported that the object of the deputation was to ask the* Government not to intervene in the dispute which, it was claimed, was purely a domestic one between the hotel owners and the workers. Leaders Reunited This joint approach by the federation and the Hotel Workers’ Union brought together two trade union leaders who had been bitter opponents since 1951. Up to the 1951 waterfront strike, the president of the federation, Mr Walsh, and Mr Young had had a long and friendly association in trade union matters. When a split occurred in 1951 in the federation, and the Trade Union Congress was formed, Messrs Walsh and Young parted company. Mr Walsh remained as the champion of the federation; Mr Young, who was a member of the former Legislative Council, became the first president of the breakaway Trade Union Congress. This is the first occasion on which these two leaders have joined forces since 1951- Before the 1951 strike, the federation often the Waterside Workers’ Union as a spearhead to its attack, but the role now appears to have been taken over by the Hotel Workers’ Union.

Under legislation passed last year, applications can be made to the Court of Arbitration for general wage increases every six months. The last standard wage pronouncement of the Court was made on July 12, 1952, but the federation has apparently considered it worthwhile to wait for about a year before filing a further application, so that the. regulations could be amended, and the hotel dispute may be settled advantageously. Mr Justice Tyndall began a year’s sabbatical leave last August, and he was in London for the Coronation. By the time the new wage application is filed and a fixture made by the Court, Mr Justice Tyndall may have returned to New Zealand.