UNIONS AND THE CUTS

Evening Star, Issue 21718, 12 May 1934, Page 12

UNIONS AND THE CUTS

CONCILIATION COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ; : EMPLOYERS LIKELY TO RESIST RESTORATION {Pee United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. v Definite action is being taken by a number of trade unions with a view to initiating proceedings in the Concliation Council for the restoration of the wage cuts that have been imposed since 1931. Since the repeal of the compulsory clauses of the Arbitration Act most of the proceedings in Conciliation.! Council have been brought on employers’ citations, and the unions have been in the position of defending the wages and conditions provided in the old awards, but the position is now being reversed. The view taken by many employers is that wages are now sufficiently low, but that conditions do not justify increases being made at present. They are prepaied to stabilise wages on the basis of'the; cuts already made, and.it is considered likely that they will strongly oppose, claims by employees for increases. _ . , J The employers, it is stated, arc not likely to concede higher wages to their employees until the Government, gives them a lead by restoring some of the cuts made in the Public Service.