“Partial Strike” By Christchurch Firemen

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29363, 16 November 1960, Page 16

“Partial Strike” By Christchurch Firemen

Firemen called a “partial strike” at all fire stations in the Christchurch metropolitan area from 8 a.m. yesterday. They refused all routine work except actual fire fighting and certain alarm testing.

The Christchurch Fire Brigades’ Union has taken what it admits is “drastic action” because of “frustration” in Conciliation Council proceedings through the attitude of the Fire Brigades’ Association.

The chairman of the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board (Mr W. R. Campbell) said yesterday that the union’s action in calling a partial strike less than a week after its own assessors had asked for an adjournment of Conciliation Council proceedings was “a most irresponsible one,” and was tantamount to treating the Arbitration Court with contempt.

A letter received from the union by the Fire Board on Monday evening said: “The Christchurch Fire Brigades’ Union has decided to refuse all routine work in the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Brigade areas as from 8 a.m. on November 15, except for work pertaining to actual fire fighting, and alarm testing of hospitals, orphanages and similar institutions. “The reason the union has to take this drastic action is because of the attitude of the Fire Brigades’ Association in Wellington at Conciliation Council. The union has striven with all its heart for a long-term settlement, but is being constantly frustrated. “The Auckland firemen have far better hours of duty in regard to time off than the Christchurch men, and the union feels that the time has come for a national award with the same conditions of employment throughout the country, just as members of the New Zealand Police enjoy.

‘ ‘This union feels that unless some drastic action is taken the position will continue for many more years.”

“Irresponsible ’ ’ “The action of the men is a most irresponsible one,” said Mr Campbell, commenting on the union’s letter. “I wonder if they are aware that the generous offer made by the fire boards was not accepted by their own union representatives because the representatives could not agree among themselves?”

An adjournment of Conciliation Council proceedings had been requested by the union’s assessors themselves. Mr Campbell said.

“Less than a week later this partial strike has been called and is tantamount to treating the Arbitration Court with contempt,” he said. “The Department of Labour has been advised, and full information will be forwarded to the Minister of Labour, who will have the responsibility of ensuring that common sense prevails, and some respect is shown for the procedures laid down in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act,” said Mr Campbell.

Union Case The president of the Christchurch Fire Brigades’ Union, Mr G. G. Walker, said yesterday that Christchurch firemen’s minimum working hours a week, which were 112 on call, were no longer acceptable when Auckland firemen were only on call for 96 hours a week. In addition, Christchurch firemen always turned out to emergency fires on their days off, whereas Auckland firemen did not.

Commenting on the statement of the fire board chairman, Mr Walker said it was unfair of him to say the union had treated the Arbitration Court with contempt when it had been twice to the Minister of Internal Affairs, twice to the Minister of Labour, and twice to the Conciliation Council, asking for one award for the whole country.

The employers’ offers so far for one award had not been acceptable because they were not acceptable to Auckland. “We could go back to Conciliation Council 100 times and still get nowhere, with the argument that is ensuing,” Mr Walker said. . “We appeal to the people of Christchurch, to whom we have always endeavoured to give good service, to think for themselves why 'one major city in New Zealand should have a different set of conditions for firemen from those of another major city,” said Mr Walker. “Some men in the Christchurch brigades think it would be better to leave Christchurch and go to Auckland brigades. Our union feels it is better to fight for the conditions which Auckland enjoys, and stop such a drift north,” Mr Walker said.