"INDIGNANT—VERY."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 6

"INDIGNANT—VERY."

« TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES ACTIVE. NEW AWARD WANTED. "MEN IN NO MOOD FOR NONSENSE." "Naturally the men are very indignant over the whole affair. They'vo been relying on the Mayor's assurance that tho management would try to arrive at an amicable arrangement without going to tho Conciliation Council, but they are satisfied no\y that that assurance is worth nothing, and they have decided to take the case lo the Conciliation Council. They have been patient all along, but now they are in what you might call good lighting form." This was lioiv Mr. A. Sutherland, secrotary of , the Wellington Tramway Employees' Union, explained the feeling of members of the union after yesterday's meeting, which is said to have been one of tho biggest and most united held since the union was registered. The men (continued Mr. Sutherland) aro of opinion that the City Council could havo ollerOd months ago what they have offered now, but, instead of doing so, they preferred to save time. Last week the union delegates had three conferences with the representatives -of the council— on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday—but no progress was made towards . a satisfactory settlement. Mr. Sutherland says that, at ono of these conferences, he asked for tho Municipal Conference agenda paper, because he knew that was what the council was going by in framing its offer, for all the managers of the large tramway systems had decided at that time to offer a certain amount of increased wages and no more.

The union therefore says that tho City Council knew months ago what it was going to offer tho men, but simply kept them hanging on up to this point. Now tho men are (to use their secretary's words) in "no mood for further nonsense," and aro going to take tho dispute before tho Conciliation Council, and, if no agreement is arrived at, it will go on to the Arbitration Court. There will still (Mr. Sutherland says) bo a possibility of the men refusing to accept the award of tho Court, but they are of opinion that tho Court will make an award that will bo satisfactory to them, considering that they have had no increase for 1\ years. Tho secretary of the union was ono of three members who drew up tho present award in four hours, a fact that is pointed to as a contrast to the present proceedings in which finality has not been readied after 11 months," though several open meetings have been held, and several private interviews obtained with tho management.

Another point (stated by the secretary) that has helped to cause indignation is the fact that a fev weeks ago at one sitting the council pissed .£1303 increases to (lato back to April and to be divided among about thirty members of tho staff, and yet it has taken the council about 11 months to offer something liko ,£IOOO to ■100 tramway employees to dato from tho day that the award is signed. What tho men characterise as "a disgusting feature of the whole proceedings" is the offer of J-d. an hour increase made in two departments of tho labourers' branch. Then iu the case of tho motorman, wita the increase offered, he would still be getting less than what is paid in the Wanganui award (arranged by conciliation, Mr. Sutherland acting for the employees), though the Wanganui tram service has only been in existence about tlireo years. Moreover it is proposed here to limit the number of motormon that would bo entitled to the increase, whilo in other centres there 's no limit, every efficient motorman getting tho increase after three years in the position. As for tho laboarers' branch, it is contended they are paid loss than the labourers in any other department, as thero aro a numbor of married men with families getting less than Is. an hour. Before they .can cxpcct a rise they have to thoroughly; prove themselves. "It cannot be urged," said Mr. Sutherland, "that tho men have been iinpah'ont or have lost temper with the corporation. Quito the contrary, and to my mind the management is indifferent as to whether tho men are satisfied or dissatisfied. Throughout tho men had stood loyally to the management, and for any success attaching to tho servioe credit is duo to them." Further, tho union secretary asserted that every motorman and conductor in the employ was thoroughly competent. _ It was suggested, at yesterday s meeting, that it was due solely to the excellent spirit in which the men do their work that the time-table was maintained. The argument in support of this was that ■if the men adhere strictly to the speed regulations laid down in tlitir instructions as Hoards corners, hill grades, tunnels, and special work, tho service would be in a hopeless tangle in less than an hour.

The vote that tlio dispute should bo referred to the Conciliation Council was almost a unanimous one, for of the H votes not in favour of this course several, it is declared, were informal. Whether the position of affairs will or will not bo placed in detail before the public will bo decided at tho next meeting. If tho decision is in tho affirmative, the union state that the public will have their eyes opened.