PRODUCTION BONUS

Evening Star, Issue 25224, 11 July 1944, Page 7

PRODUCTION BONUS

GASWORKS TRADESMEN'S GRIEVANCE UNSKILLED WORKMEN EARKIKG MQfiE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, July _ 10. § A decision to consider drastic action if an anomaly which was created b.y the introduction of the co-operative production scheme, was not removed within a week was made by the tradesmen employed by the Auckland G«s Company when they held a special meeting at the works to-day. It was staled by the men that, although they had received many assurances during the last four months and although the Minister of Ijabour, Mr Webb, had agreed that <m inomaly existed, negotiations to remove the cnevance had not been completed. The grievance arose at the beginning of March, when a production bonus of 3d an hour was given to the members of the Gas Workers' Union. This produced a position where some of the skilled workers found they were getting a penny an hour less than "the unskilled men working alongBidn them. Tlin tradesmen con tended thai, as engineering, turning, lilting, bricklaying, sheet metal work, tin-smithing, and carpentering were key jobs on- which the success of the production scheme depended they should be included in the payment of the bonus. It had been pointed out to them that without Hieir co-operation the scheme could not succeed. At first tho tradesmen stood out from the scheme, but when they agreed to co-operate they were assured the anomaly would bo one "of the first problems dealt with by the Production Council.

Tho matter came before the council, which agreed that the anomaly should bo removed. When the Minister of Labour visited the works on June 12 he addressed tho men and agreed that an anomaly ex-

isted. Ho said ho would take up the mattor with Urn Stabilisation Commission immeiliately on his return to Wellington. The men have, heard nothing since then. The meeting to-day was attended by tho boilermakers, engineers, bricklayers, carpenters, engine drivers, and tinsmiths. " It appears that we have come up against a brick wall," said the chairman, Mr J. Grant. "The Government is stalling for time. After the efforts they have made on nur behalf the supervisor of the scheme, Mr C. H. Benney, and the deputy supervisor, Mr W. A. Leggett, must be fed up with tho way things have dragged on. We will havo to take direct action." ■ "'The Minister made first the suggestion for a co-operative scheme, and the whole thing is his baby," said Mr A. Burgess, a tradesman. "Up to now, in spite of all the. assurances, we are left out in the cold so far as payment of the bonus is concerned. There is no other scheme of the kind that can bo named where only the tradesmen are le.ft out. We have kept off direct action until we are exasperated." Tho men unanimously passed a resolution that as they had negotiated with tact and discretion for four months, they now demanded that their request to particrpato in tho production bonus bo filially dealt with within a week or they would consider more drastic action. Tho resolution will bo forwarded to the Minister.