TIMBER WORKERS APPLY FOR RISE IN WAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1949, Page 8

TIMBER WORKERS APPLY FOR RISE IN WAGES

Decision, was reserved by His Honor Mr Justice Tyndall when an application by the Nelson and Westland Timber Workers’ Union to amend the wages schedule of the Westland Timber Workers’ Awardin effect an application for a new awaid—was heard in the Arbitration Court at Grey mouth yesterday. Tl appeared that the court had possibly made an honest mistake by taking'matters, other than wages, into consideration in the Westland amendment, but not taking such matters .in--10 consideration with most unions when making the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Award, stated Mr F. Turley, who appeared for the Westland union. The Court had granted a total increase of 3id per hour as from June 1, 1949, but he did not think that the increase was enough, said Mr Turley. “Wiiat my organisation is seriously concerned about is that the Westland union schedule of rates, under the new amendment as from June 1, shows a smaller increase than' the schedule for the New Zealand union,” he said. “When the Westland union’s case was before the Court last, the issue was fully discussed and the Court granted increases to bring Westland up to the standard as existing between Westland and the rest of New Zealand before the advent of the national union.

Stating that timber production had gone up in Westland because men were now more satisfied with conditions than before, Mr Turley stated that his union was only asking for what had been granted all other timber workers in New Zealand—-that the union’s schedule of wages be increased by 2‘.d per hour, making a total- of 3kl per hour increase since January' 1, 1948. Mr A. Seed appeared for the employers of New Zealand timber workpus:.