ACTION ON WAGE INCREASES IS DEFERRED

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1947, Page 10

ACTION ON WAGE INCREASES IS DEFERRED

Opinion Divided In Labour Movement (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Reports of a decision by the Federation of Labour not to proceed at present with an application to the Arbitration Court for pronouncement increasing standard rates of wages by a sum equivalent to £1 a week, were confirmed by officials of the Canterbury Trades Council of the federation yesterday. An application that the Court pronounce an increase of 6d an hour in unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled rates of wages, with a percentage increase for females and youths, was filed oh March 26, by the federation under an amendment to the Economic Stabilisation Emergency Regulations, gazetted on March 13. However, no date for the hearing of the application has been asked for by the federation; and it is now most unlikely that action will be taken until after the annual conference of the federation in June, although a special conference of the national council of the federation has been called for May 8. Settlements Postponed Most workers were led to believe that the application would be heard in April and settlements in many award disputes have been held up pending an announcement by the Court. No application for a general order was made, as in the opinion oi the Government and the federations national council such an application could not be made. “An application for a pronouncement increasing standard rates of wages has been filed; but no date for the hearing by the Court has yet been requested, because of the difference of-opinion that has arisen in the industrial movement over the meaning of the regulations,” said Mr A., BGrant, secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council, when he was Questioned. “The national council of the Federation of Labour is being called together on May 7•* for a specia meeting.” If either the federation or a union applies for a pronouncement on standard rates, an increase is granted and the Court proceeds to amend awards accordingly, the increased wages will date only, at the longest, from the date of the pronouncement. The possibility of further delay in receiving wage increases for which they have been pressing is expected to have consequences, in the industrial labour movement. ■ , The latest development will be discussed by the . Canterbury Trades Council at its meeting tomorrow evening. , . . „ The members of a number of unions have become restive as other groups have secured increases, or, as in the case of the Seamen’s Union, have retained in peace time war-time wages and conditions. Action by the unionists has been held in check by counsel that they might expect some adjustment following a pronouncement of the Arbitration Court. Movement Divided The industrial movement, throughout New Zealand has been divided on the possibilities of the stabilisation adjustment, the purpose of which, the late Minister in charge of Stabilisation (Mr. D. G. Sullivan) announced, was “to facilitate a rapid adjustment of wage rates.” Delay in making an application occurred because the national council of the federation did not understand the full meaning of the regulation,, and since then confusion has apparently arisen in the various trades councils, giving, some union leaders say, a group in Wellington close to the Government.and opposed to any changes in stabilisation, an opportunity to delay proceedings for a wage increase. . There are other groups. The first is that which is demanding a wage increase of £1 a week, which the present .amendment to the regulation does not give them. Neither does the regulation, nor cotfid it, require the Arbitration Court to increase wages by £1 a week. This group has been demanding an alteration of the regulation. Another group, anxious to bring the sub-marginal workers up to what they consider a decent level considers that that can be done by using the present regulations. Another group, whose members would profit by the present regulation, believe that their best interests would be served by demanding a general order increasing wages by £1 a week. Watersiders' View The Lyttelton branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union at its annual meeting yesterday carried a resolution supporting the demand of the national executive for an Arbitration Court order giving a minimum rise of £1 a week to all workers. A further resolution to ask the Government to make the necessary amendment to the Social Security Act to permit of an increase of age benefit allowances in proportion to the amount granted in the general order, was carried.