DISPUTE SETTLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 14, 16 July 1936, Page 15

DISPUTE SETTLED

i:■■- . ■ :-..1. ; ~ r .^ • ■ DISMISSED DRIVERS

!Q¥ESTION;v OF 'WA;GES

(By Telegrapli:—l'icss Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 15.

.. It has. been decided by the Minister of t,abpur tthp Hon. H. T. Armstrong) that asinhere" is' no award in force covering, drivers in the.Auckland district no action can be taken against a city carrying 'firm-vwhich, it was alleged, recently "dismissed a number of its', drivers because they would not enter: into an agreement to ,sign a document; to wojk for less, than the 1931-wages' leveT'' "Advice to'" this effect has~be'en.received by the Auckland Drivers'; Uiiiph;1. which'recently .urged the'.Min-: ister tp-. proceed against the firm undersection^' 123..0f the Industrial Concilia-, tion and Arbitration Act for a. lock-^ out.." ■ , ■ , ;

"It'-wauld'""appfear that1 the" "action, .ofj the firm was unwarranted, ?rtd .while' I r.egi-et that the \yay is^nptidpen'-'toj take'^any action by way .of court^pro-; "ccediihgs, I.am looking .further;into tHej matter with a view to the men.being', •reinstated," said the^Miijister. "I have' gone into the "question,, and, flnd'that as there 'is■no'.award in forcei: covering drivers in, the'^ucklaad,district no action can-be takea against .the firm for a lockout. I understand" the-men's,statement of matters differsi from' that of ihC firm. The latter states that drivers made- a demand "that they'; should be paid 1931 .rates Of -wages as -from July,-!'. It is denied that the men were requested to sign any ;documents, but it is admitted that they were asked [to,.carry...Qn .at .the., old.rates of .Is 9d ! an-...hour with an" assurance that an e"ncfeavoiir%6uld be "made to : adjust the:, conteact, as soon, as possible, .and. that in any 4 qasel'fujl payment of 411 arrears if--any, would, be immediately, legislation was passed requiring that' ■ suoh- action be taken:"-j ;•■■.•: "- ..•■: ■

!..." TKe: brgarifser. of the drivers'- union' :-statedvthafe\he;dis.pu"te had been satis-i factorily.;: adjusted and the men'in-i v.olyed'n.a'd.b'een offered their' jobs! agairiv r..'""-'-: -: ■ ;■*■-. ■ "'. . .. ■■ ■ 1