RAILWAY STRIKE "OFF"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 186, 3 May 1920, Page 6

RAILWAY STRIKE "OFF"

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r STRAINS''RESUME, RUNNING r;*«--™'-:-:;-•:.TO-DAY: •■

||JfIITES REFERRED TO COMMITTEES

j. : The railway strike is settled, and trains ;■■■■■'■'■'«■? to.run? to-day ns-usuffl. 1 The Prime L Minister had an interview with the esfecuji.V ' tive of .the. Enginedrivors,, Firemen, and !'.'■. ■ ■•Cleaners' Association on Saturday oven- !•: .'• • ihg,: and at', the end; of a, talk' of somo i;-: 7 ■' two hours complete agreement was reachj" ■ cd,- and-the locomotive men decided to Iv'.rxall the strike- off. , . '~ '.':, ;; .• The locomotive' men agreed to withr';.:■ draw their demand forjetrospective'pay-.' ;,.;' ment of 6uch increases as may be given i ! ; as'the result of the. investigation of their (?■' "caw by a committee which is to bo set j- ■"!>.'' and this was: the only remaining i. \ .point of "difference ibctween the'parties. ' ;:.■ .'. The._ position now, is-that a special i • .Committee,.a,different 'conimitteo for each [■~., dispute; is to investigate thci claims' of S; ; the First Division,'the A.S.K.S., and the i'/E.F.C.A. The demand made, by tho !' lA.S.K.S.some days before tho strike .-was, :,:;:'.■ called, by their, organisation, was that] iv. /the'!disputo should 'be referred to a T. ...'Labour. Disputes Conimitteo under the 1,,' Labour Disputes Investigation' Act; There' if . iwas a legal difficulty in the way/of this {•' ■..' demand being granted' by the. Govern-' t' ■: ment; in .the fact, that the Government j jr.; .is not'-.subject, to the 'operation' of this ' 1 .. .'Act. -.The Prime Minister got Cver-thjs" j;-,.difficult}' by agreeing that ■ a tribunal (■: '..-similar., to that provided for iri the "Act j';,' shall be set up; and ;L that' substantially !-.;.'."the same procedure .shall-be 'ollowed.. j-" This isithe agreement bvwhich 'the dis-i !'.,-. 'putes'b>tween.'the'A.S.E!S.'and the First j' . s)ivision':'moh7-have been settled.; The •■;.". .locomotive men asked for,a committee !•';' of slightly different, constitution, and this (■.':-':' proposal the. Minister accepted.' Thecora-' (.;•.:.■■ mittees will be set. up as. soon ns.pospj;;: sible, probably during thVpreseh't week, fe;t and "they will begin an examination 'of $;/;■ ; /.the trouble^as.'soon( as this ,can bo ar-.' };.- Tanged.; There'is nothing, to prevent the (■[.■'■ question of retrospective.payment of'in- : j.?'-;:'. oreases being'considered.by, the commit fV: -. .tees - whenthey, are hearing, the several' |~'. /disputes;:'and there- is-very little' doubt. '.. 'that.the cjuestion.will be: raised. , ;

I : v>TRIE MINISTER'S;STATEMENT/ .NEGOTIATIONS.- v jji;...-.. ; In commenting on the. settlement, obj-;.. taincd,-,Mr. iMassey, made■>the following ' :.■ brief statement:—"ln each .case the prin r ?;; oiple •of • conciliation is- being observed) •VvTor the pointsC/in' dispute ,as. betweeii ■■ the" E.F.C.A. ;itnd the Government a V ■'; special conciliation coinmitteo is being set i';-." ...jip, aid I hope' toYhaveit appointed.at !;:;...or before,the end'of the week,' and to t- ..get-it to .work .as soon as'possible, there- >••.. ..after: lii the other two. cases—of , th<s £■■■: .'First Division and the A ; S.R.S.--the' pro-!-:■:■■.:■_,visions of.the Labour Disputes Investiga. t'.'v tipn;Act' are, being taken advantage.of £•■;,; so far as they-apply. They, do not quite ! "fit a dispute as between the Crown and >.'.. .its'employees, but the principle is being i : ; observed.,-I-have no. doubt that it will I;- 'Hvork out satisfactorily. '.- ' : -V- <'--'■ ? -"I'e.m naturally very', glad .that the | ..-strike .has-come to an end, especially/as {■..■: : . it 'enables; the, original' programme of [■;'." Jour Royal;.visitor to be proceeded with. £':V'(l am glad to say that so far as I am i- ; '■ able.-to,. judge--and I think I am-right l'," _:in this—the dispute has left no'.bitterness ..' behind. The negotiations,were conducted !,,."; inthe most friendly spirit, although they i. ! were'on''Friday-and Saturday somewhat |;';.■'. protracted.. But. the result, of it all,is j ; ,i that Ave", -understand /one another better I•• ; than wo did before.'and as.a consequence S -,-: \ ,- I believe. that any disputes that mayi oc- ;-■■'-.. cur in,the"future,w]lbe.very much more !.-;„■' • and that the Minister,of If. ■■ Railways and the Railway Department f>.on, the' one.-hand, and the- railwaym'en <r ; onV-the-o.ther,:.hand, '.will' be' the abetter* ':-;, -able, to work-'-loyally., together for our/ '-,'. : experience during the last few .weeks."

J ■;* LOCO. EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENTV ;..'., '■? ;■ SETTLEMENT. "' ' ' \';-\/'" of'the E.F\aA. (Mr. ; F. ;,' ;'"t r .L?win)vmad6. a brief statement yes- : , terday regarding the settlement. He ■ said;, that His: executive wished' to take ; : the.public of,;New.-Zealand into ift ;:,.fullest confidence. "'..., - •■,'.' |> .-The".: ; Executive .' Council - : •. of. \ the ji ; E.F.C.A.. said;lJivLewin, -had resolved r";j that; if;: thesPrime Minister would not \i. on-.the request-of the'associa-. ft:. tion> for,a' signed .undertaking that im(m. provehients in'wages, and: conditions l;-, 'granted,:by,the commission should be re- (■■■_ trtispective, ■ the- alternative should be i;'; .that wages and conditions should bo i; ; ( ' 'dealt with item"by item until-'an_agre&-lc. ; ment was.,,arriVed<at; This resolution ;' 'was abandoned owing to the collapse,of !;:.■■: - tho.. association's general secretary (Mr; t'-- iW._ ,M!Arley),"' who.-.was conducting ' the *~,,-Btrike and-tho negotiations'oil behalf J. .of the association. !'.-; _; secretary,.:■ 'added Mr. £ A (Lewin;/ hadyworked exceedingly- hard ;<'«ver since the 6trike commenced. Ho i:,.'-;Biad'?scarcely had any. sleep. On Sat--Iv.urday, morning Mr. M'Arley attended''a i---'-: Meeting of:the,.locomotive men, who de|V. tided unanimously that the course dei;. ''tided upon ,by the executive was the j ■•. right one..,vHe had arranged ,to meet |- the-.V'Prime -Minister later/in the. day S•-.; ; for a further'conference, an : response to [:' Mr: Massey's invitation. But during ;. ■: Saturday afternoon Mr. M'Arley suffered a severe nervous breakdown and was f;. ordered completo- rest .by his doctor. :'-;;.. The executive of the E:F.C.A.,; after '-.. learning of the collapse of the secretary,' ; decitlel 'noV'to- .prolong- ;the" strike any t further,, ,The members of the execu- ;;: tivp:.:re'cognised that the general (secre- ?.: tary had a most intimate knowledge of ' 'the, locomotive-men's affairs, and they . -were , not prepared, to: proceed without :, : ;' .'him. The executive,,therefore, ; met Mr. f': : IMossey and signed'an agreement. " The' : . terms .of: this agreement hadv.been,, :,'.;. framed-r,at. the conference on Friday, ' -when tlio parties failed to reach'a settlement, owing to the executive's demand for'retrospection. , I': Immediately'after the signing of the Settlement, the members of the E.F.C.A.

;■. executive co-operated with the • Railway p Department in securing the, resumption ; cf ..train ■ services 'and -in : arranging for- ;•■■':■ the continuing.of the Royal tour. , r J'he ;. locomotive men in various parts of/the *:' 'i North Island were informed by tele- ;: ..,' cranh and telephono of the decision that •■■■:'mi. been.reached/'and they, were direct- ; 'ed-to undertake any work, required of ;' .them immediately. -Some members of' •. ! tho association were at work yesterday. ! Mr. .-W. M'Arley, general secretary -of. ~ the'E.F.C.A., is still confined- to' his .'.. .bed. but-his condition.is reported to be ; Improving. Ho is not, likely to .bo fit i for work for several days. ''

i- v TERMS OF SEHLEMENT ; THE LOCO. MEN'S AGREEMENT ; tribunal: w™FsevelN DAYS ' The following are the. terms agreed 10/ by the Prime Minister and .tho executive of the I/)comotive Engineers, 3?iremen> and - Cleaners'' Association :— v.fl)- An /independent tribunal to bo .'.' eoUup to consist of 'four members, : two to be appointed by the Government and two by tho association. 1 The tribunal to be called a special : conciliation commission. ' '■ . ' ' (2) Two assessors r -to bo appointed ' by'each party. In addition each • party, to be by im odvo- ..- cate." ' ' ' '. (3) Tho whole matters in disputo , • to be gone into by the commission, ' ami the-result of the deliberations to bo submitted for approval to . ' each party fd the dispute. ...(4) This commission to bo set up., within' seven days s from., this date. Each party to the dispute to use its best endeavours, to proceed' with the 'hearing by the special, conciliation commission. . ■ -■ -..: ' : ;.(5)- The/ conciliation oommission in reporting the result of it* deliberations to also report from what iato '

■ any iporeases of .wages and any conditions should retrospectively 'commence. - - v ' ■ - (6) The executive of the association agree to advise their members and all whom they represent to return to work at once. ;Tke Prime Minister agrees that no member ' cf the association or any person who is' employed, in any manner in the rail-way-service, shall, be prosecuted for the present strike or'be subjected in any manner "to, what is known as victimisation. ■ (7-) The execntive desires that one of tli > questions to be considered and dealt with; and reported on by the commission, shall be the. claim of the Locomotive Enginedrivors,' Firemen,' V and Cleaners' Association to be tho I -only body recognised by, the Gov- [. eminent as representing either collectively or' individually '-those men' who' are its members in terms of its rules. .The Pr.inie Minister agrees that that question should be so con- ' sidered and dealt with, but if it in-' ;. .yolvw any' question of'the Tights of > any other union or, association,, that union or association shall be heard on .'that point/ by the' commission if . it so .desires..;' Dated Wellington, May 1, 1930. Tho agreement is signed by Mr. Mas'.eey for. tho Government and by Mr. F. Z. Lewin (president) for the association. '.' . .-, •, '.-.'.■''

' THE POINT AT ISSUE . STATEMENT-, BY 'ME.. MASSEY.' # A statement on the strike position as it _ then stood was made by the Prime Minister -on. Saturday afternoon., The bituntion has since changed, .but the statement is the'only qfficial-explanation yet given of, the poinfe at issue in the dispute. Following is the statement by ■My. Massey.:— ; ; "I think it is generally understood now. that I had no difficulty .whatever with-either the Railway Officers' Institute or, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. Both were willing that the .matters in dispute should be dealt with under the provision's of the Labour Disputes Investigation Act of 1913, with any necessary, modifications that might be required. The position was, however, very different with those who claim to represent the' locomotive men. ' They also, were in favour of a' conciliation commission or committee, but their ideas, of details were, according to 'niy experience, unworkable. After a long discussion they, however, agreed to form a .tribunal wriich I could accept, but the one point about which we could not agree wastheir .proposal to the. operations resulting from any, recommendation of the tribunal, retrospective. „, :Wi.th.'the-''Loco.- Men; ' "I met the locomotive men first on April 29, buton April 30 the eafecutive of the E.F. and C. Association, made (a new deniand. which had not'been men.tioned by them at the interview'on the evening of April 29, namely;-that whatever - increases ,- of wages - or conditions were- recommended by the ConciliationCommittee must be retrospective from 'April 1, 1919. I pointed, out that, the date for commencement retrospectively of, the new, rates and conditions was one of the essential matters to be considered by any, tribunal which- might be estab-Ushed;-since so fa'r.'as the, claims of 'theE.F.C.A. related' to increase in cost of living, that cost *as a varying quantity. I said that -the Government would (not think of itself'naming-as a condition of agreement i a> certain, time "from:'which' increases should commence, '. and could not consent to that condition of agreement being.imposed,bf'the executive of the vE.F.C.A. But.l.at once,offered to leave to the Committee, yithoat limitation, the power, to recommend a date from which increases of wages and improvement of . conditions should, retrospectively commence. "I emphasised that, the Conciliation Committee would be representative" of both parties, and that the E.F.C.A. - would have the fullest opportunity - of contending that April 1, 1919, was the date which should be recommended, and that if their contention was fair-and just m that respect,, there was no doubt .that it,*yould<be considered as such, and recommended by the tribunal. I said that I could not agree on behalf, of the Government to withdraw from any ■tribunal which might be established the power to consider and determine the date from;' which any increases recommended by it should commence , It is manifest that while the Government can trust' Parliament to affirm an action of. the Government founded upon the ad-' vice of an'independent-commission approved by both parties, it.could not jus-' tifv to Parliament an arrangement by which one of the parties should alono decide and dictate a decision,upon one of the most important matters which the commission ought properly to consider and decide." ■ Mr. Massey asserted that he was not opposed to an increase in wages if it was decided.- upon by thetribunal. ,- '■'.. . .- ;■ The Govsrnmsnt's Offer.

I On or about April-1, 1919," Mr. Massey; continued, "there was aD agreement arrived at as between representa-tives-of the Government and Department and representatives of the railway service, the result of which-was embodied .in the Railways- Act passed last session, which is. now the law of the land. I could not possibly goVbehind an _ Act of Parliament. . it also puts Judge, Stringers report and recommendation on one side, though the enginemen with other branches of the service nayo .accepted payment •in accordance With that a-epoirt. .The. .other two' branches of ..the railway service were quite satisfied, to leave this matter : to the tribunal to make a recommendation; but the representatives of the 1 enginemen were obdurate, and insisted on retrospective action from the date mentioned, thus, taking the. decision with regard, to this important ;point out of the hands of the commission or tribunal to be appointed. To this I could' not agree, as, being wrong in 'principle and unfair to the other men who had .waived this point. . , "To get' over this difficulty,' I proposed to accept the following: 'Tho Conciliation Commission, in reporting the result of itst deliberations to also report at what date/in its opinion, any increase ■in -wages and any conditions should retrospectively commence.' I think any intelligent and unbiassed.man will agreo that that was a fair proposal to make, but tho men who pro. fess to speak for the engine-drivers refused to consider it-in any way whatever.

The Government's Duty. "At this stage tho deliberations came to an end, and it has become mj* duty to ask the people of tho country to support tho. Government. in getting , the railways to work. I have always been of opinion, both as Minister and private member, that-poople in the employ of the Stato should have fair play aud jus-.i tico doue to them, and I think so still; but wo cannot allow any small section to stick up tho whole business tf the Dominion. •■:.■■■. . • "Th-> railway system is-a complicated ono and- diffioult for outsiders to understand" but I havo before me at themoment an official statement from tho Assistant-General Jfanagor of Railwavs with_ regard to the average weekly earniogs of engine-drivers in the North Island' for the first three months . of this year, and it shows that first grade engine-drivers (of whom there are 110, who worked full ,fckne) earned ion a weekly average _J;3 Bs. 9d.,- and second grade., engine-drivers (120), working full time, : earned <£5 18s; lid, It may be said this includes overtime. -It certainly doai, but then b'vertimo in the case of an engine-driver means any work niter IS) o'clock) at eight, oven

when ha has done no work at all pre■vious to that. That is to say, that 'very, often, and especially in the cusp of Alain Trunk epgine-drivers, tho whole of the time" they are at work is paid for as overtime. I might say that I have no fault to find with the men of tho. E.O. Institute or the A.5.8.5., but I. must express'the opinion : that the locomotive .men havo been, very badly advisei in forcing a strike upon the country, and afterwards, when a, settlement is being .considered, taking up an utterly unreasonable . attitude on a vifally important question of principle. I am afraid' that there is some influence at. work which has not yet appeared -upon tho surface." ' ■' .

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT A.S.R.S. RIGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRIBUNAL RELATIONS WJTHE.F. AND C.A. By Telcerapli—Press Association. Christchurch, May 1. "Perhaps some of our members are of' opinion that tho locomotive men's association will get an advantage which our executive has not secured. That position wag anticipated by my executive, and'l can'assure members of the A.S.R.S. that there is.no possibility of anything like that happening.- The Government is already wise to the fact that to bring .about such an arrangement would only mean falling out of the frying-pan into the-fire." This statement-was, made this afternoon by Mr. E, Hampton (president of '. the 'Amalgamated Society of Eailway, Servants), in an-'interview covering the most important phases of the railway dispute. '■■■~.'•.■ Mr. Hampton was asked whether the Prime Minister was right in his statement that the agreement ended the strike, but not tho grievances. "Oh, yes," said Mr. Hampton, "that is quite true, although at the same time, of course, we hope that-the-agreement made for the resumption of work will ultimately end the grievances of the railway men; but if it does not, the position i» safeguarded to this extent—that-the men have the right to declare war again. The trouble vas brought- about in our case by the position which the Prime Minister took up in his .reply to the Executive Council, in which'he practically said that the General Manager ' should havo the last word on what he germed technical matters affecting conditions in the service. We have always been prepared to negotiate wiih tho General Manager and try to come to terms, and if we could come to terms that, I think, would bo the ideal way of settling our _ disputes. But we can nevor accept the position that the General Manager's word must.in each nn<f every instnnce.be accepted, as final, without the right of appeal to anyone else. ■■..'■....'. s'

"The agreement which we have made gets over that position ,and gives us the right to have the General Manager's decisions reviewed by an independent -tribunal.. The arbitrator will not bb selected solely by,-the Prime Minister, as ho originally proposed in his last communication to us. but his appointment will be a matter for negotiation between Mr. Massey and the execute. We will start the hearing of the case when we both agree that we have confidence in the arbitrator, .which will, we, hope, be in a.few days. -It may be suggested that it N will bo a difneul.t matter to arrange, but personally I do not expeo" any great difficulty''in'cominff to an agreement regard, ing 'the chairmanship. , >' "Judging by, reports in the Press and by telegrams which we, have received from some'Of-our 'branch secretaries, some of our members wero of opinion' that a complete agreement regarding wages and conditions would bo secured before work would bo resumed. Mr.'M'Arley in a statement published to-day, said that,if the delegates were to go through wages and conditions item by item it would take a considerable time, and prolong the dispute. .If that,is so in- the, case of one small section of the, would be more pronounced in.the case of the A.S.R.S., which represents the majority, of the'men in the service. - To keep thousands of our own men out of employment, involving the enforced idleness of thousands of, other workers, together with the general inconvenience of the public, would not in my judgment be/justified. Consequently, my executivehave centred their attention in the meantime on • negotiations which would bring about, an early resumption, of • normal railway services, and reasonable prospects of bettor wages and conditions, being arranged in the, imhiediate -future. , "Members of the • A.S-.R.S. can accept my assurance that the basis of the agreement for resumption is a good one, It allows full, free, and unrestricted discussion of any matter whatsoever that we wish to discuss concerning railway affairs before the tribunal to be set up." .

Was there- anything in the terms of settlement to indicate the date from which any new. wages and conditions thnt may be agreed on by the,board wouM operate? Mr. Hampton 'was. asked. "Such a matter is not specifically! • mentioned, and, there is no need for it to be mentioned," replied : Mr. Hampton. "After we have come to an agreement before the suggested tribunal, the matter of when the improved wages will operate from will be discussed, find the board's recommondations will be given'- effect to. •, "Regarding the telegrams from" Napier and Auckland, where members of the A.S.R.S. have refused to carry ont their executive's instructions' to resume work>it is quite clear that the men there do not understand the position. My executive endeavoured to get the E.F. and C.A. Executive to. agree to combined representations on the matter. The executive of the E.F.- and C.A. turned down absolutely this proposal, arid consequently the A.S.R.S. had no .option but to make an'agreement meeting their own point of view. If the executive of the E.F: and C.A. can show where the ex-, ecutive of the A.S.EiS. havo agreed to anything which is detrimental to the interests of the locomotive;men,'or which is detrimental even to the interests of the A.S.R,S., or which is any violation of any: important Labour principle, we. are quite prepared to meet them and be convinced .or our error. And if we are so.-convinced, then we are prepared' to join-with them and moke'joint representations to have the sins of omission or it may be—remedied. Then if the' Prime Minister will not remedy them, I will give an undertaking that the order directing our men to resunie work will be cancelled. In the absence, however, of any undertaking, of this kind, I hope members of the A.S.R.S. will obey the instructions of their own Executive Council." .

; STAFF MANAGEMENT MORE SYMPATHETIC CONTROL i WANTED. At a" largely attended meeting of'the Thorndon ,branch of tho .Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants the following resolution: was .- unanimously ' carried :— "This meeting feels that in view of past experience with the present management any benefits,to be derived from the tribunal to be set up will not be given full effect to, ,■ and therefore, trust that arrangements. will be made to immediately place the staff?under.more sympathetic control." ■'•'.'