Formula For Settlement In Brigades’ Dispute

Press, Volume C, Issue 29434, 9 February 1961, Page 12

Formula For Settlement In Brigades’ Dispute

(JVJZ. Press Association) WELLINGTON, February’ 8. The Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) announced tonight that the meeting held today under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Labour (Mr H. L. Bockett) between representatives of the New Zealand Urban Fire Authorities’ Industrial Union of Employers and representatives of the various fire brigades’ employees’ unions had found a formula for the settlement of their dispute.

The employers’ representatives had agreed to allow their offer, which includes a reduction in duty hours from two days on and one day off to day on and day off to stand. They had also agreed that the question of extended leave, which a number of unions desired to have referred to independent arbitration and which had been the major matter remaining to be settled, should also be discussed in Conciliation Council.

If no agreement was reached, the issue would be referred to the Court of Arbitration, Mr Shand said.

The unions had accepted the employers’ condition that the

award to be negotiated for firemen would cover the whole of New Zealand. With the exception of Wellington, an award for officers would cover New Zealand. Wellington officers and their board would negotiate a separate agreement. Mr Shand said that Mr Bockett had told him the negotiations had been conducted in a most friendly atmosphere, and he would like to express his personal appreciation to the representatives of the parties at the meeting for the helpful and responsible attitude they had adopted and which had led to what he regarded as a very satisfactory settlement for both sides.