NEW MACHINERY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 10

NEW MACHINERY

TO ENFORCE DEMANDS

CHBISTCHUKCH/ 26th April. Complete reorganisation of the whole trades union movement in New Zealand along lines calculated to promote greater unity and stronger resistance to measures considered injurious to the workers' interests, has been recommended by the open industrial conference that sat in Wellington recently. The recommendations, of the special committee that was set up at the conference, 'and which were subsequently adopted by the conference itself include the following:— /

The immediate organisation of national unions in all industries where there are at'present industrial federations ot associations.

Cancellation of registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration. Act by local unions. This will not be effected until the national union is functioning, and until such, time as ' the joint Industrial Council arid National Council (hereinafter provided) so decide. Grouping of all workers in one industry into one industrial department, to be controlled by a joint council, which shallbe representative of all unions in the group. CENTRAL NATIONAL COUNCIL. A section of the report recommends the complete reorganisation, of the trades union movement. Generally, the plan aims at the cancellation of registration under the Arbitration Act and the development of a close organ- ; isation with general control or supervision in the cases of industrial dis- . putes by a Central National Council. ■ The proposal is that the State employees represented at the conference, who were all three railways second division societies and the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, should have representation on the Central National Council. : It is also suggested that there be formed a general workers' union, to include general labourers, shearers, harvesters, threshing mill workers, farm labourers, find Public Works con- . struction men. , A section, of the leport declares that the abolition of the compulsory clauses . of the Arbitration Act leaves no option . to the trades union movement but to take industrial action to protect their standard of living and ensure reasonable conditions of employment. A national union shall have power to conduct its own business, except that (a) it must submit for approval all claims for industrial agreements to the joint council of. the Department and the National Council; (b) no industrial agreement shall" be signed unless it is first approved by the joint council and the National Council; (c) a national union shall do everything in its power to carry out the . instructions of the joint council and the National Council. Should a national union be unable to arrive at a settlement of a dispute, the matter shall be immediately referred to the joint council. There shall be established a National Council elected by representatives of all industrial departments subject to the eontn>l of the annual conference. The National Council shall manage the business of organisation and shall advise and assist all industrial departments and unions in the settlement of disputes or on any matter which they may deem advisable. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. ■ "Regarding the State employees represented at the conference," the report states, "we recommend that they institute a joint committee, comprising delegates from the A.S.R.S., the P. and T. Employees' Association, the Engine Drivers, FiTemen, and Cleaners' Association, and the Eailway Tradesmen's Association, and this committee shall be allowed- representation on the National Council for 'the . purposes of assisting the national unions and departments in the settlement of disputes. "An. industrial disputes board shall be appointed by tie National Council. The National Council shall establish industrial district councils wherever it , may be deemed necessary. "We recommend that a general workers' union be organised to include general labourers, shearers and shed hands, harvesting and threshing mill workers, and men engaged in farm work generally, men employed in construction work by the Public Works Department, men employed by public ; bodies at general labouring work, and . such other workers as cannot be organised into national unions governing one industry. POWER TO ACT. "The recent action of the Government in abolishing the compulsory clauses of the Arbitration Act leaves no option to the-. trades unionists of the Dominion but, to take industrial

Grouping of all workers in one industiy into one industrial department, to be controlled by a joint council, which shallbe representative of all unions in the group. CENTRAL NATIONAL COUNCIL. A section of the report recommends the complete reorganisation, of the trades union movement. Generally, the plan aims at the cancellation of registration under the Arbitration Act and the development of a close organ-

direct action to protect their 'standard of living and ensure reasonable conditions of employment,?', states a.clause in the Toport. "The policy adopted by the Government therefore compels the conference to advise the workers that they must be prepared to take a definite stand to maintain a living wage and the hard-won conditions of employment which have been obtained by the industrial organisations. "With this end in view, we recommend an immediate propaganda campaign to resist any further attempt to lower wages or make worse conditions of employment; that the National Council be empowered to take such action as may be deemed necessary to protect the interests of any affiliated organisation when wage rates or conditions of employment aro attacked; and that the conference and the trades unions of the Dominion pledge themselves to give all the support in their power to any organisation involved in a struggle to maintain their conditions of employment." WOEKLESS TO FORM A NATIONAL UNION. The report recommends that the Unemploymont Act be administered by the Minister in charge and a committee of four members of Parliament. It is also recommended that a permanent employment commission be set up, representative of farmers' organisations, workers' organisations, and of organisations of employers controlling secondary industry. This commission to assist and advise the Government as to the- methods by which profitable and continuous work can be found.

As steps toward an immediate remedy for unemploj'ment, it is suggested that the workers must demand the restoration of the 10 per cent, wage- cut, a seven-hour day, and a fiveday week, a guaranteed weekly wage to casual workers, relief workers to be paid tho. wages current for the work at which' they are employed, and sustenance payments to unemployed men equal to wages in the event of no relief work being provided.

It is recommended that the unemployed workers should form a national union with headquarters at Wellington.

Propdsals made for financing unemployed relief works are the issue of Treasury notes for £15,000,000, or alternatively a forced loan for a like amount, either repayable in five years.

The report protests against the levy and the wages tax, and suggests in lieu a graduated tax on income and other taxes.