STOPPAGES OF WORK

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 September 1944, Page 2

STOPPAGES OF WORK

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYMEN

WELLINGTON, September 13. A decision to operate as from next Monday a service in accordance with the traffic regulations, which means a go-slow policy, unless certain inquests are met by the management by Saturday, was reached at a stopwork meeting of the Wellington tramwaymen and ■ women held today to consider conditions of employment. There was an attendance of 628 out of a total membership of 750, which was regarded as practically 100 per cent, attendance when allowance was made for members on holiday, sick, or exempted. The resolution was carried unanimously. The meeting lasted from 1.30 p.m. till a p.m. The service stopped soon after noon and was in operation again about 5 p.m. In the meantime a great section of the public began footing it homeward, causing extraordinary scenes in the main thoroughfares. The cause of the discontent was the uncompromising attitude of the general manager of the tramways regarding any requests made concerning conditions of work and the smooth running of relations between employer and employees, said the President of the Union (Mr G. Amos) in a statement after to-day’s meeting. It was felt, in view of the long hours worked and the fact that there had not been a stoppage of work for 33 years, that the Union desired more understanding and consideration from the General Manager. Three resolutions, which were carried unanimously, are to be forwarded to the management. Failing a reply by Saturday satisfactory to the Union, extra call backs and voluntary overtime will be discontinued, and the service carried on strictly in conformity with the tramway regulations as covered by the city by-laws.. This procedure will be adopted for a week when a combined general meeting will be held to re-consider the position. The resolutions are as follow: “That 25 per cent, of the net profits of the tramways department for the year ending March 31, 1944, be passed back to members of the Union in the form of a war-time loading bonus, and that this practice be continued for the duration of the war; that the retiring leave allowance be brought into conformity with that operating for other members of the staff. “That a demand be made to the City Council to adjust the holidays position in accordance with the Holidays Act, and on the basis as set out in the proposals for a new award forthwith; and further, that payment to carshed employees on night shift on Sundays be increased from time and a-half to double time rates.

“That all men returning in future from overseas belonging to the Union, and in the superannuation fund, who cannot continue with the department through war disability or sickness, be given all the money that has been paid into their superannuation account up to the termination of their services; and further, that a written statement be obtained from the council to that effect.”

Resolutions regarding merit bonus passes for members on trams and additional manpower were referred to the executive for appropriate action.

AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS.

AUCKLAND, September 13. No work was done on the waterfront to-day when the monthly stop-work meeting of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union lasted most of the day. The meeting, which started at 8 a.m. and finished before 5 p.m., is believed to longest in the record of the union.

Matters arising from the recent meeting of the National Council of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union in Wellington were the main business of the meeting. There was no call for labour to work the evening shift between 6 and 9 o’clock, and ships in port remained idle until the night shift started at 11 o’clock, pay shift work will resume at 8 o’clock to-morrow morning.

Stop-work meetings of the union, held on the second Wednesday of each month usually occupy two hours. The June and July meetings both lasted four hours. Much of the business of the three long stop-work meetings has arisen from the Court proceedings on June 23, when the President of the National Union, and also of the Auckland Union, Mr. H. Barnes, appeared before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., and successfully defended two charges of inciting waterside workers on two different ships at Auckland to be or continue to oe parties to a strike.