INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1937, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

HUMOUR AND AWARDS.

[per press association.]

WELLINGTON, April 27.

“If there is any prize given for a firm getting into the greatest number of awards, we might withdraw this objection, as we are covered by nine awards up to this date,” stated a letter from> Irvine and Stevenson’s St. George Company, Dunedin, to the Conciliation Council, in a dispute between bricklayers and employers. “While it will make no difference to us if we are cited, under, say, the dairy manufacture or shearers’ awards,” the letter continued, “we wish to lodge a formal objection.”

The objection was upheld. The dispute is between the Federated Bricklayers and Federated Builders and Contractors, and is Dominion in scope. Assessors from Canterbury are attending to bring a separate dispute there into line with the Dominion dispute. It was agreed that the hours be eight on five days a week, between 7.30 and five, with an hour for lunch, but the employer may agree with the workers to allow not less than half an hour. Except for a clause regarding under-rate workers, only two classes of labour are recognised, journeymen and apprentices. The hearing is proceeding. ,

FORD SETTLEMENT

SAN FRANCISCO. April 26

The “sit-down” strike of employees at the Ford motor plant has been settled. The company agreed to the men’s demand that it cease discrimination against union members and recognise seniority rights. The plant will reopen to-morrow.

U.S.A. EMPLOYED. NEW YORK. April 26. Independent reports from the National Asociation of Manufacturers and from the Federal Reserve Board placed the number of persons employed in manufacturing' industries in the United States at April 1, at 11,000,000. This is approximately the same as in 1929. A total Of 3,310,000 persons found employment since 1933. Between February 15 and March 15, 1937, 305,000 unemployed were re-em-ployed. The Manufacturers’ Association urged a Federal census of unemployed. T rWTTi/NV TITTO NTTUNT

LONDON BUSMEN (Rood. April 27, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 26. Representatives of trade unions and transport board held a conference at the Ministry of Labour, lasting five hours, with reference to the threatened bus strike. The meeting was adjourned till to-morrow. TOKIO TRANSPORT. TOKIO. April 25. With true Japanese courtesy, the drivers of tramcars and motor-buses apologised for inconveniencing the public by a “go-slow” strike which involved a reduction in speed to eight miles an hour. They are asking for a 20 per cent, increase in wages, and the municipality is offering 6 per cent. LATER. The strike has been settled. The workers have been granted a ten per cent, increase. 'PLANE works; SEIZED. (Recd. April 27. 8 a.m.) TOULOUSE. April 26. To-day. when a Court ruling ordering the ejection of sit-down strikers from Latecnere aeroplane works, which they have occupied since April 12. should have been enforced, the strikers ejected the directors. The foremen announced that they would themselves run the factory as they had received no satisfaction.