TRAMWAYMEN'S DECISION

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 9, 11 July 1922, Page 7

TRAMWAYMEN'S DECISION

449 VOTES FOR, 41 AGAINST, ! ■ THE MEN'S CASE STATED. :::; ; | Contrary to general expectation*,: tS|i .{ Tramwaymen's, and Pb-irep-honßO !lEia*| ■ ployees'' Union^yesterday.carried aisicti^.,,'* ballot in favour ,of a'strike by' 449 V vofiius ' to 41, rather than accept the oonoStknis offered fay the City Council in regaid-4o; t ; wages redaction and registration of ..ana award under the Arbitration Court." Tlxtf ' ballot waa conducted by :the' Labour D**j - partment under-the "provisions of -thai Labour Disputes Investigation Act, aa4),;.;':the.result was announced as follows/?—'; : In favour of striking ............ 449? /."•, Against ......... .................... ' 41:.,. "■■'■J Invalid .....;„ ..........'..,....... : 6-" '1 Total number of v0te5......... :.496v- . i . Number ; . entitled to vote. ...... : 562 ;■::,;■ . , UNANIMITY OF THE1 MER^. \'v ", The Labour Disputes InvestigaiiotS ! Act requires that seven days' .notfca ;■■ must be given of an intention to strise^, '■ ■and the Tramwaymen's" Union -will" niaeti ■ in the course of the nest day or.;two tg| vJ decide what action to. take. , ''• '../,". ',*:': As illustrating -the..unanimityVpf" fSagf'';. attitude of the men.'on thVpoin'i/'Jof so* jecting the council's, conditions,'?it was ".■ stated to a Post reporter';.to-day i that fha , ballot represented "an entirely unfettered ' opinion. The last meeting; of.^he'.'-unionT: to consider the matter had been, held on\.. Friday, and the men were -noturged by.,* anyone to vote. one Way, or." the oth«v " ' The matter was left'entirely in.the hands of each individual member to^vote as he. thought'fit. ■;■■'• ■-"!•-.:-: ■♦•.-;- v.-; ;; Although the Labour Disputes Im*esfe gation Act .requires; seven days'." notice '. to be given of intention to. strike',- the ' point is by no'means "clear whether the; tramwaymen, if. they- do desire, to goj out, will have to give fourteen 'days 3 notice to the City Council.,. The-,'pro^ '.■': sions of the Labour 'Disputes Invesfcw gation Act make it illegal■■ for a 1 .union! to strike x within, seven days'" after :a| ' secret ballot has been taken. The Act! ; says: .'.'lf the members or any of. tha;' members of'a society of \vorkers tor ■. which, this Act applies take.part1 in'ai strike, whether arising outjof ardispute with 'their employers relating-: to* tha conditions of their,, employment'.or'not^ without notice being given,, and'■' before!' the expiration, of seven days after 'the publication . . \ of the result of a; secret ballot . . . every such ■ memy ■ ber shall be deemed to be a. party ten. • an unlawful strike,/and .shall be..liable ' to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds'."' But there is- other legislation affecting; the number 'of •days', notice which" must * ; be given of intention to'strike. .^Section ' 9 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbi-' : tration Amendment Act,; 1908, declares that "if any person employed.in auy.oii '■:■ the industries to which this section ap.; " plies strikes without having given to hia . employer, within one month' before sq striking, no less than fourteen days' m tice in writing . . . of his intention! \ to strike .-■. .the striker shall bq liable on'summary conviction by a.Magj istrate to a fine not exceeding twenty* five pounds." The Police Offences AcS contains/a provision that" no person employed by a local authority, or by anyj concern • controlling the electric; lighting* gas, or water Bupply of a city, shall' - agree to leave, without due no«ice, the employ of that local authority. "Doe notice is interpreted by the Act afl meaning at least fourteen days' notieel , in writing. The War Begulatione ataj have some bearing on the question. 'These regulations, contain v.th«>follcw?J . ing provisions:— \ -; . . " "The Governor,;,if satisfied; 'that anj ."■■; industry is esseniial ■ for-IKe pultlio \v<£.i fare, may by Order-in-Council. declatw ■that industry to;be' anindnstry essential for the public welfare. ' ",~". ; ' "No person shall be"a"patty'tb a Ecdß ; tious strike or a seditioug lock-buti oi i shall incite/, encourage, or procure ass ■ such stride- or lock-out or -the thereof."" '.■"'■--'-."." i -+.. :.: ' " 'Seditio,us"eteike''',' r 'weang'"aiiy,'striii : , or transaction in the nature of "a stiifee^ or combination, agreement, common understanding, or concerted action on the pasrt of any workers, which is intend* ■ ed or has a tendency to interfere wi±H . the manufacture, production, outpafcj supplyi delivery^' or carriage of goods on . articles in, or in connection /with, any industry declared1 by ; the Governow in-Council to be essential for the pubfifl : welfare." , . Section.lo of the Labour.Disputes Itfi ' yestigation Act provides for1 the taking of' a. secret" ballot'" at 'any. tinie- 'during a strike, as .to.': its continuation. ..There is.-. ; also a penalty for aiding or abetting afl unlawful strike. . ■ i , ■•■■ -. NO STATEMENT ,AT "PRESENT '•;- ---"I have no statement to _make aS; p'reßent,"..said t6e. Mayor, to-day.. \,"tW have received no.offiqiaL,communication! : from the • union as-to their propoaadj : action. When we get some official ia-i ' timation from the union, a statement will be made." „' . """■:.'■