AWARD WITHHELD

Evening Star, Issue 17542, 23 December 1920, Page 6

AWARD WITHHELD

CLERKS’ UNION NOT REPRESENTATIVE. GUILD AMONG FREEZING CLERKS. [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 23. The Arbitration Court has decided by a majority of members not to make an award in the dispute between the Christchurch Clerks, Cashiers, and Office Employees’ Union and the Canterbury freezing companies. When the case was heard it was shown that the companies’ employees, together with the employees in allied industries, had formed themselves into a guild, and were strongly opposed to being brought under the provisions of an award of the Court." It was also shown that practically the whole of the clerical staffs of the companies were members of the guild, which had entered into an agreement with the employers in regard to wages and conditions that was satisfactory to both employers and employees. Only a small proportion of the members of the guild are also members of the union which brought the dispute before the Court. The Court’s reasons for not making an award were: First, there was no genuine dispute justifying the Court’s interference ; second, the union was not fairly represenof the employees sought to be brought under the provisions of the award. The judgment explains that there is ample remedy, by civil process, in the case of breach of the agreement made between the guild and the companies. Mr M’Cullough, the employees’ representative on the Court, in a long statement attached to the judgment explains his reasons for dissenting from the decision.