TRAMWAYS DISPUTE IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 13

TRAMWAYS DISPUTE IN WELLINGTON

Parties To Confer On Points At Issue

THREAT OF HOLD-UP TO SERVICES Tension has prevailed this . week among the members of the Wellington Tramway Employees’ Union following a meeting held last Sunday morning. In a letter to the city council the union has intimated that failing an indication by the tramways committee that it would meet the representatives of tlie men upon certain matters in dispute, tactics would be adopted which would be detrimental to the smooth running of the city’s bus and tram services.

Those who attended the meeting on Sunday morning are stated to have resolved unanimously on this course, and it is understood that the terms of the letter allowed the tramways committee seven days in which to agree to meet the men. The period of the ultimatum was to expire on Monday. From inquiries made among the men it is understood that the tactics proposed would be on the lines of the “go slow” policy adopted in Wellington in September, 1918. Meeting Arranged.

A statement of the attitude of the tramways committee was sought by “The Dominion” yesterday from the mayor, Mr. T. C. A, Hislop, who is chairman of the committee. He stated that the union had been advised that the committee would meet its representatives at its next meeting. A report on the matters in dispute was circulated among the members of the committee at its last meeting, and action was deferred to enable them to study it. Under the industrial agreement between the Wellington City Council and the tramways employees, disputes are dealt with by the union appointing representatives to meet the tramways committee as representing the employers. The tramways appeal board, presided over by a senior magistrate, has its powers limited by legislation and deals with such matters as appeals from dismissal rather than general matters arising out of an industrial award or agreement. The complaint of the union on this occasion is suited to rest not so much on the points in dispute as on the alleged unwillingness of the tramways committee to meet the representatives of the men. Against this the records show that the parties have met at least seven times since the present agreement began to operate.