BUILDERS’ STRIKE

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1939, Page 8

BUILDERS’ STRIKE

ENDS AT WELLINGTON Mass Meeting Decision TO RESUME TO-DAY. WELLINGTON, June 21. Tn terms of a recommendation carried with only two dissentients, at a meeting of building trades' workers in.the Opera House, this morning, the carpenters and builders’ labourers invojved in the stoppage of work on the Fletcher Company’s housing contracts at Karori, are to return to their jobs, to-morrow, pending immediate negotiations for a settlement. These negotiations with the master builders arc to be put in train this afternoon, by the unions concerned. There were about 2000 at the meeting.’ Mr J. Mounton, National Secretary o f the Amalgamated' Society of Carpenters and Joiners, presided. The following statement was afterwards issued: —

Fraternal messages were received from Auckland and Palmerston North, and delegates of the General Labourers’ Federation were present from Wanganui, Palmerston North, Westland, and Masterton. Delegates of unions other than those directly concerned in the stoppage of work also attended.

The following resolution was carried, with only two dissentients: That this meeting congratulates the carpenters and labourers on the stand they have made in connection with the conditions of work at Karori, and their general stand against an anomalous conditions in the carpenters’ and labourers’ award. We pledge our support to them in any action that may be taken to rectify the position, and, in the meantime, we recommend that all men return to work, pending immediate negotiations for a settlement. We pledge our loyalty to our unions, in this effort for better workin? conditions, which are years overdue.

The statement goes on to express the opinion that the Court, in framing the recent awards, had acted against the weight of evidence submitted by the workers, and urged the Government to take immediate steps to secure the major demands, namely, payment for holidays, by enacting of the proposed Annual Holidays Bill, and a higher wage for both trades, to compensate for the higher costs ot living. . ~ The statement continues: Anothe. resolution, which was carried unanimously. recommended all building trades unions to support the Building Trades Federation, and to organise for further success. There will be a joint meeting of the executives of the. carpenters’ and labourers’ organisations, this afternoon, and we will immediately get into touch with the Master Builders’ Federation, for the purpose of opening negotiations immediately. It is expected that these negotiations will result in a complete, agreement, but, in the event of a deadlock occurring, the men have directed that they should be immediately called together ~cain. and this is the intention of the organisation - concerned. We believe that we have right and justice on our side, and we are fully supported by the rank and file and intend to leave no stone unturned t 0 have the causes of friction removed. _____ Auckland Mass Meeting AUCKLAND, June 21. . Practically ad building undertakings in the Auckland metropolitan area were suspended, this morning, while the carpenters and joiners, ana allied tradesmen, held a stop-work meeting in the Town Hall, to piotesi primarily against certain features of rhe award issued recently by the Arbitration Court. Mr J. B. McCormick (president of the Carpenters’ and Joiners' Union) presided over an attendance of 2500. The men ventilated their grievances from various angles, and, alter registering protests in a series of resolutions, decided to return to work this

afternoon. The resolutions replied to the protest made by the Auckland Master Builders 1 Association, at the holding of the stop-work meeting, stressed the need for the introduction by the Government of its Holiday-with-Pay Bui, commented on the serious loss ol wages by men through wet weather, and endorsed a proposal that the Government should take over the entire erection of State houses. The attendance overflowed in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, and the meeting, had to be transferred to the Town Hall proper. The meeting was orderly and enthusiastic. A resolution was carried unanimously, registering gratification at the concern expressed by trie Master Builders’ Association, regarding the unfortunate delays in tne building industry, and trusting that they will view with equal conce n those delays caused by wet weather, Which are distinctly unnecessary and illogical, as they disorganise the industry and delay the housing programme, thereby affecting the public generally. _ . . A further resolution was carried unanimously, emphatically piotesting against the judgment of the Arbitration Court on the present award, believing that such judgment was dead • edly against the weight of evidence showing lack of understanding of the working conditions, . and failing make allowances for the increased cost of living. . Another resolution was carried unanimously, expressing satisfaction at the intention of the Government. t bring down a Holidays-With-Pay i A further resolution, carried bv an overwhelming majority, endorsed tne recommendations that the State take over the entire control and erection of Government houses, with a measure of workers’ representatives on tne management; it also asked that a guarantee of employment be given to all the men, at least as good as that offered to the men from overseas, and, in return, the meeting agreed to j cp-operate in the rapid and economical production of homes, and to assis. in absorbing men from the No. 13 Scheme, into the building trades. AUCKLAND, June 20. ' 'Dissatisfaction has been brewing I over the terms and observance oi| awards issued by the ArbitrationCourt, and a stop-work meeting call-j ed by the Auckland- Carpenters and. Joiners’ Union, will be held at the Town Hall to-morrow at 8.30 a.m. a large attendance of carpenters and joiners is expected. The will be.augmented by many general labourers, steel workers, and o