NOT BOUND BY AWARD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 11

NOT BOUND BY AWARD

CHRISTCHURCH TRAMS

BOARD CUTS EXPENSES

(By Tolcgrapb.—Press Association.) CHBISTCHUECH, 20th April. The Christchurch Tramway Board to-day approved alterations in the working conditions of its employees hitherto governed by an industrial award involving a reduction in wages, flexibility of hours, a reduction of overtime, the abolition of double time 011 Sundays, and the discontinuance! of annual holidays; 'The action of the board follows a judgment of the Court of Appeal determining the effect of a clause in the C'hristchurcli District Tramways Act, 1920. The board claimed that this clause gave the board power to fix the wages and conditions of its ■ employees without reference to the Arbitration Court, and the Court ruled in favour of the board. In the negotiations with the board following the judgment the union offered to aeeept a 10 per cent, cut in wages, which would have saved £11,976 yearly. The board, however, preferred to adopt the altered conditions rather than make a full 10 per cent. cut. A cut of a halfpenny an hour in wages is to bo made, and in lieu of overtime the men will be given 'time off. This will apply to work on Sundays. The total savings will bo £10,7-10. The abolition of annual holidays will save £3600 more, but this cannot be put into operation this year. Tlie union is appealing to the Government, to introduce legislation to re-, strain the board from dealing with the wages of the employees without the latter having l,hn right nl' :i|i|>e;il In the Arbitration Court. j