PLACEMENT SERVICE

Grey River Argus, 5 March 1937, Page 6

PLACEMENT SERVICE

Union Secretary’s Tribute “CARRYING. OUT SPLENDID WORK.” Mr P M. Butler, secretary of the Municipal and General Workers’ Union (incorporating labourers’ and rela - ed trades), stated to an “Evening Pos't” reporter on Satund'ay last that there appeared to be misconceptions legaiding the (functions iof the State Placement Service, particularly in regard to membership of workers Ln un. ions. . . Speaking on behalf of his union, Mi Butler said that the State Placement Office was carrying out splendid work, the Service filled a long-felt wan . The union realised the importance of the work and haid no complaint regarding its methods. 'Pile union id’id not expect ‘he Placement Office to be a recruiting agent for union members. The function of the office should be one <of strict impartiality, and as far as he could see, it was endeavouring to remain strictIv impartial, devoting its energies to seeking work anid’ fitting workers into respeetve positions. After- the Placement. Office had in. trodpeed a workman to a prospeeti.vc employer, 'the other matters concerning awards, etc-, then became the eon. cern of the employer, the worker, ami the union. Some employers had the impression that because a Government office had sent them a workman, that the onus .lay on- that office regarding the rates of remuneration and general provisions of awards. He desired to point out that the fact ‘that a workman had been sont from .the State Placement Office did mot relievo the employer from his responsibilities un. d’er an award or agreement.

If employers desired to be clear bn their responsibilities, all they had to do was t 0 ring the Department of Labour, or the union which governed the particular class of work proposed to be undertaken, and they would be advised on the correct course to adoyt. If the Placement Office was expected to be a reerniti'.ng agent for the union, the employers might lose confkl ence in it; on' 'the other hand, if the Placement Office was expected 1 by the employers to relieve them lof their responsibilities, the unions and. the workers would lose confidence in it.

Mr. Butler said tlin’f his union had the greatest admiration for the work being carried out by the Placement Office. and did not intend' to embarrass if in any wav. All employers were not expected 'to be conversant wiith the details of all awards, but the onus lay on them to see that they were observed. and full information was available. to them from 'the Department of Labour and' the trade unions, which wonk! g’ndly advise them on any points at issue.

Brieflv, (he position as he saw it, was a« follows: —1. The IPlaeement- Office brought prospective employers and "-or’-ers together. 2. After the introduetion, if was the duty of the union "nd the emnlovers tin see that the conditions of the awards were observed.