VARIATION OF AWARDS

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 3

VARIATION OF AWARDS

PROCEDURE UNDER EMERGENCY REGULATIONS STATEMENT BY MINISTER [i’liK United. Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 12. “ It lias been brought to my notice that misunderstanding exists concerning the functions or the industrial Emergency Council,” said the Minister of Laoour, Mr Webb, to-night. “ The council was set up to advise me on matters arising ouc of the war emergency which may pertain to my ofiice. Tho Labour Legislation Emergency Regulutions, 1940, give me power to vary tho provisions of any award or agreement, etc., if it appears to me necessary fey maintaining supplies and services essential to tho Jile of the community, “ The council lias recommended me in a number of eases to vary awards, and 'in instances where applications have been declined by me on the recommendation of the council no evidence was disclosed that the need lor any variation of the award conditions was necessary. it is my practice to refer any matters involving any suspension or variation of Acts or awards to tlie Emergency Council. Where necessary, a special committee set up by tlie council brings the parties concerned together, and up to the present it lias been most successful in obtaining Kubstauial agreement between tlie parties. “Many applications made to me for variation of the conditions prescribed by awards, etc., have not been supported with tiie necessary information and reasons for a variation to enable tho council to make its recommendation. in considering an application for variation of an award it is necessary for the council to have regard not only to tlie wishes of tiie individual firm con-cerned-and its employees, but to many other matters which have a direct bearing on tiie problem, “If an application is prepared with tlie same care and presented through tho same'Channels as tlie original submissions to tlie Court of Arbitration when the awards are under review, much misunderstanding and unnecessary correspondence would be avoided. 1 must stress tlie desirability of presenting swell an application through tlie appropriate employers’ association. .If tliis course were followed it would ensure that evidence in support of the application is presented in proper form, and that at least a preliminary effort had been made to obtain an agreement with the workers’ union concerned. CONSULTATION WITH UNIONS. “ It must be remembered,” Mr Webb said, “ that an award is regarded by all parties thereto as something not lightly to be set aside. An award embodies in the main an agreement entered into between two parties in Conciliation Council, the workers and the employers, and in suggesting a consultation with the other party to that agreement I am only following the usual practice in commercial life when one party to an agreement desires a variation of that agreement—namely, consultation with the other party concerned. If those who, are experiencing difficulty in maintaining production under the present award conditions desire their cose to bo considered they should place the case in the hands of their organisation and arrange for the proper presentation of tiie facts to the council at a hearing which wAuld bo arranged upon formal application being made to me. “ Further, tho workers’ union concerned should be advised of tlie wish of tho employers,” tlie Minister added, “and it should he served with copies of the proposals made to the council. Both sides will, of course, bo heard. If these steps are taken applicants may be sure that their case will receive full consideration and be dealt with on its merits.”