TUNNEL WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 171, 16 April 1931, Page 10

TUNNEL WORKERS

Men State Their Case “NEW RATES, OR STOP” “The Government has adopted an arbitrary attitude toward its Public AVorks employees and with a ‘big stick’ gesture has said: ‘Either sign for the 40 per cent, to 70 per cent, wage-reduc-tion, or get out,’ ” says a committee appointed by the Tawa Flat tunnellers, who allege that the workers have been locked out by the Public AVorks Department, with the result that work on all tunnels lias stopped. In a statement made to “The Dominion” yesterday the committee said: “In locking out the co-operative contractors from tunnels and other construction works throughout Die Dominion, the Government and the Public AVorks Department have created a position that has no parallel in the history of the Dominion. Practically all of the tunnels and most of the large excavations in connection with Public Works construction are carried on under a system of co-operative contract, or in other words are employed at a piecework rate, and their earnings are in accord with result —no work, no pay- ” 40 to 70 per cent. Reduction. “Notice was recently served on cooperative contractors that their rates would shortly come under review. The new contracts were presented as late as April 8 and an intimation was received almost simultaneously from local engineers that work would cease on April 10 unless the new rates were agreed to and the new contracts — which provide a reduction in piecework rates of from 40 to 70 per cent—were signed. “On April 12 representations were made to the Minister for Public Works for a conference between the men’s representatives, and the department, and an offer was made to the Minister to continue the work- at day wages, aS provided for in the agreement between the department and the union, either for the continuation of the job, or during the time negotiations were- in progress on the new prices. This Offer was refused by the department. Danger of Delay. “Under the circumstances the men are completely absolved from any re l sponsibility in the stoppage of work. It is difficult to understand the attitude of the Government which professes its desire is to reduce cost. AVhile progress on its jobs is at a standstill overhead charges go on, and in some of the tunnels Where progress was suspended in heavy ground, the timbers are settling, necessitating enormous ex■pense at again raising them to Alignment. Only those familiar with the work will realise what this will mean in increased costs. • “The men are, and have been, prepared to prosecute the works at day rates, which is the alternative to piecework rates, and provided for in the agreement, either until the completion of the jobs, or until such time as reasonable piecework rates can be agreed to. There has been, and is, no need for progress to .be held dp or for the men to be idle. . Any responsibility for the hold-up or its continuation must be shouldered by the Government.” Stratford Line Affected By Telegraph.—Press Association. Taumarunui, April 15. Tunnellers on co-operative contract work on the Okahukura-Stratford line at Ohura have refused to start work as a protest against the revised rates of pay. About 117 men are affected. The men on the Stratford end are also out. y The men held a meeting at Ohura last night, but the nature of their deliberations has not been disclosed.