TRAMWAYS DISPUTE NOT SETTLED

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1948, Page 8

TRAMWAYS DISPUTE NOT SETTLED

CHRISTCHURCH, Dec 17. The national secretary of the Tramway Employees’ Union (Mr P. A. Hansen), refusing to accept award proposals made by the employers’ representatives in ’ Conciliation Coimcil proceedings, said the employees would not tolerate any attempt to whittle down the conditions at present ruling in the industry. He challenged the employers’ assessors to say where they derived their authority for the proposals, which, he said, would in some instances take awav conditions enjoyed in the tramway industry since 1920. He said that since the last negotiations, tramwaymen throughout New Zealand had held stop-work meetings. The attitude of the union assessors had been endorsed by a majority of 37.5 to one. He submitted the union’s proposals for a settlement. Mr R. E. Dawson, for the tramway employing authorities, submitted a revised offer for a settlement. This was immediately rejected by Mr Hansen and the other union assessors as being an attempt to remove protective clauses, increase the spread of hours, and generally deprive tramwaymen of conditions at present existing. The union representatives withdrew for consultation and the council adjourned without any progress.