GAS WORKERS’ CLAIMS

Evening Star, Issue 26042, 5 March 1947, Page 4

GAS WORKERS’ CLAIMS

FIRE CLEANERS' DEMAND REJECTED AWARD PROCEEDINGS PENDING (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 4. Claims by the Auckland Gas Workers’ Union for an increase in pay of 3d an hour for the bogeymen and firecleaners at the Auckland Gasworks have been rejected by the tribunal which, was set up under the Strike und Lock-out Emergency Regulations after industrial trouble at the gasworks. The union is still pursuing its claim for a new award, and has filed an application for a hearing by the Arbitration Court at its next session in Auckland. A 30-hour week and considerable increases in pay are sought by the gas workers. The opinion that if the Auckland Gas Workers’ Union had agreed to the management’s suggestion for the working of the retort houses on a cooperative basis the present problems in ,/ the retort houses would * probably have been entirely eliminated was expressed in his judgment by Mr C. L. Hunter, conciliation commissioner, in Auckland, and chairman of the tribunal which heard the Union’s claim. A cooperative scheme, he said, should be thoroughly investigated by both parties before any alternative to the existing rates of pay was obtained. ,v Mr Hunter’s judgment Was delivered before the co-operative scheme was rejected by the gas workers. In view of the' fact that the Gas Workers’ Union was filing an application for a new award he was of the opinion that the claims should be left to the Court of Arbitration to decide when it next oame to Auckland. His. decision was that the existing rates of pay should meanwhile remain unchanged.