HIGHER WAGES ASKED

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 284, 27 August 1930, Page 15

HIGHER WAGES ASKED

Christchurch Tramways CLAIM & COUNTER-CLAIM By Telegraph.—Press Association. Cliristchurcli, August 25. After a sitting of four hours, the Conciliation Council set up to deal with claims for a new award by the Christchurch Tramway Employees’ Union, adjourned to-day without reaching agreement on any important clause. Tile union claims represented increases of one penny per hour in wages, and several demands for amended hours and conditions. The Tramways Board submitted counter-proposals for a reduction of wages one halfpenny per hour, and with certain amendments in conditions. Mr. W. Hayward, chairman of the Tramways Board, said that the board must have relief in some way. Many of the conditions relating to pay for overtime, allowance of holidays, and hours of work, had been given when times were good and the trams were showing a profit. Now times were not good. One of the conditions the board found burdensome was the payment of double time for Sunday work. If the board could not get this condition amended, it would have to reduce its losses by cutting out Sunday work. Mr. Snow, for the union, said there was no possibility of the union agreeing to the suggestions made by the employers. After further discussion Mr. Thompson, general manager of the tramways, said that under special legislation the board was exempt from arbitration awards, and might yet have to raise that point.