PRINTING TRADES DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 71, 25 March 1935, Page 4

PRINTING TRADES DISPUTE

Negotiations End in Deadlock

Negotiations for a settlement of the dispute in the typographical and related printing trades - affecting all newspapers and commercial printing businesses in the Dominion - and for the termination of the printers* strike in Wellington, ended on Saturday evening when the executive of the Printing Trades' Federation of Workers rejected the final offer made by the Newspaper Proprietors' Association and the Mast,er Printers' Federation* In view of the gravity of the Issues Involved and of the widespread effects threatened by

continuation of the dispute, a statement of the course of negotiations is now made by the employers for the information of the public.

At the outset it should be observed that the true •character of the dispute has been disclosed during thß past week* Negotiations regarding the claims in respect of wages and working conditions were conducted in an apparently amicable spirit until the strike in Wellington was precipitated without notice.- Even as recently as Saturday afternoon, when the members of the Workers' Federation executive again met the employers' representatives, they not only aaked for* some further concession, but also uttered warnings that were tantamount to threats that unless proposals acceptable to ■ them were made, the strike would be extended to other centres, with a strong probability that it would be supported In other industries. After careful deliberation the employers made a proposal that should have been acceptable had there been a genuine desire among' the workers' representatives for a conciliatory settlement, but this was summarily rejected. Thu3 the leaders of the Workers' Federation have brought into full effect .the policy enunciated by them when the

original -claima were formulated* They then expressed (contempt of conciliation and arbitration and proclaimed their determination to enforce their demands by .direct action.

HISTORY OF NEGOTIATIONS

Except for a relatively small number of workers in special branches of the Industry, employees in the printing industry are organised in two bodies,generally known as the Typographical and the Related Printing Trades' Unions, most of which are affiliated to the

iNew Zealand Printing Trades' Federation of Workers. A year ago, this organisation increased its activities and succeeded in gaining the adherence of <Union 3 that lhad previously maintained their Independence. These

Unions were committed to support of the Federation's policy by postal ballots of their members, but the decisive votes were glwen by only a minority who had (been easily persuaded that extravagant proposals

4 could be achieved by a powerful organisation. The Federation presented its demands to the employers last September with a request for a conference. This was iheld early, in October and in December the Federation renewed its demands by filing a dispute in the Arbitration €ourt . A Oonciliation Council was appointed and aat for two days at the end of January. As it did not reach an agreement, the proceedings were

iqdjourned for a month, when the assessors again sat Tor two days* The workers' assessors had throughtout these proceedings insisted that they had no (authority to conclude an agreement without referring *he proposals to the Unions. Consequently the proiposals for amendment of the current awards which resulted from this conference were sent to the Unions mot as recommendations by the Conciliation Council but «s the terras offered by the employers. This offer (comprised an increase of wages by the restoration of the cut {approximately 5 per cent) made in January 1933 and some concessions in working conditions of value to the men concerned. A statement of the proposals in detail was issued to members of the various (Unions with ballot papers, which weira returnable on Tuesday, March 12-th, The Workers 1 Federation states that there are 2000 workers in the industry, but the Federation's announcement of the result of the ballot accounts for fewer than 1500 votes, of which 762 were recorded as adverse and 705 in favour of acceptance* Meetings of the Unions were held in many centres last Monday morning and in all but Wellington the men returned to work. The Wellington meeting without warning of any kind developed Into a strike. There hay» been many rumours that this action was provoked by

some external cause but the actual fact is that, the Wellington Union, whose president and secretary hold) the corresponding offices in the Federation, precipitated the strike without consultation of the other members of the Federation executive, and without

giving the employers any opportunity to consider the fact that the ballot had been adverse. The first

intimation to the employers.of the result of the

ballot was made in a letter in which they ,were also informed that the Wellington Union.would not return to work unless the demands by the Federation were conceded in full* There would have been no diffic- | ulty in arranging another conference between Tuesday' and Monday to permit the employers to review their offer* The only possible conclusion is that the

Federation or Its acknowledged leaders did not want a peaceful settlement but were determined to precipitate a conflict and the subsequent events have confirmed that impression* Overtures were made to the employers on Tuesday morning when four delegates had a conference with a representative Committee and this was continued In

the afternoon when the Federation delegation was larger* The proposition made by it was, in effect, that if the employers could not make, any further general concession, they should grant a larger increase to the Wellington Union only. The obvious Implication was that the employer should purchase peace in .

Wellington and risic being attacked by the same methods to secure similar.concessions elsewhere. The

proposal was not accepted. All the members of the Federation executive in other centres, who had apparently *>een ignored up to this stage, were summoned to Wellington and a meeting of that body was held on Saturday. In the afternoon the executive met the employers and as already stated demanded some further concession with threats of a

general strike. The employers were extremely reluctant to make any compromise in such a situation, but after very careful deliberation, decided to make a' final offer in the hope of securing a peaceful settlement. They met the Federation executive in the evening and their spokesman, after emphasising the gravity of the situation, and the responsibility resting on both parties, a-nnounced an extension of the employers' previous offer. This proposed an agreement for two years Instead of one, the increase in wages of approximately 5 per cent already offered to apply to the first year and wages to be Increased at the beginning of the second year, by approximately another 5 per cent. These terms were to come into operation forthwith provided the men returned to work in, Wellington immediately. The conference adjourned for half an hour and on its resumption the Federation executive announced that it refused the offer.

THE WORKERS' DEMANDS

The principal demands of the Workers' Federation were (1) for the restoration of wages to the rates prevailing before" the Court's General Order came into operation, (2) a working week of 40 hours,, <3) a fortnight 1 a t holiday on full pay.- Under the existing awards one week's holiday and nine statutory holidays are provided for in one section, and one week's holiday plus four statutory holidays in the other. The hours are from 42 to 44 according to the nature of the work, and the weekly wages of compositors is towns of over 6,000 range from £4.8.6 to to £5.4.0. If the demands were conceded these rates would be £5.2.6. and £6.5.0. respectively. The employers offered a range from £4.12.3. to £5.9.0* end a renewal of the old award with minor modifications. Incidentally the strike involves machine compositors whose earnings on piecework range from about £7.0.0. to £18.0.0* a week.

In their general submissions the assessors for the employers contended that the condition of the printing industry which had been hit very severely by the depression did not permit of their entertaining the Unions-demands. If conceded they would have given the employees a material advantage over1 the peak wages of 1930, because there had been a substantial fall in the coat of living. They pointed out, that a great many newspapers and printing establishments were making no profits at all, and in other instances, where moderate profits were being earned, these would be wiped out if the wage costs were increased^to^ttoj^^jrt^JjWo^ demand »^

The Federation representatives admitted, in part, the contention of the employers, but submitted that the remedy was in their own hands., and l;f the prices of advertisements and printing wene increased to. the publio the industry could -readily concede all the Federation was asking for.

The employers pointed,out that the capacity of the public to pay was a determining factor in prjl-ee;* and that competition in the printing trade waa so

keen that it would bo very difficult to pass on any increased cost 3to tho public. The employers' offer, although not justified .by the state of the trade, was put forward as evidence of a genuine desire to bring about a settlement of the dispute and to maintain the existing Dominion

awards which provided a uniform scale of wages and working conditions throughout the Dominion. In their final offer of a two years' agreement. the employers were taking the risk of an economic-

reaction, which might leave them in a more difficult' position thßn ever,"but It was done In the earnest . hope that it would ba accepted and bring about a settlement of the dispute. Unfortunately, the Federation representatives could not see their way to close on the offer and restore peace in the industry. The legßl position of workers affected by the dispute has been explained in a statement issued by the Minister of Labour! They are at present bound by awards-which are still in force although-the periods for which they were nominally made have passed. Consequently, any'strike in which they may take pert is an unlawful strike, and any worker in the industry who takes part in a strike- is' liable" to a fine of £10, while a Union is liable to a" penalty of £200. When a strike takes piece and the' majority of the members ; of a Union are at any time1 parties- to: the strike, the Union is deemed to have instigated the strike and is liable to the penalty named*