DISMISSALS FOR GO-SLOW AT AUCKLAND

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1949, Page 5

DISMISSALS FOR GO-SLOW AT AUCKLAND

Take Effect Last Night

AUCKLAND, February 17.

Dismissal notices were served by many Auckland building contractors by mid-day to-day on carpenters and joiners. Similar action is being taken throughout the day by others. The dismissals take effect from to-night, unless there is a last-minute settlement of The dispute, the prospects of which seem remote.

Two thousand carpenters and joiners in the metropolitan area may bo employed by to-morrow. Auckland Master Builders’ Association reiterated that it would have no hesitation in putting its resolution into effect.

The dismissals follow the carpenters’ action in going slow. Though the Master Builders’ Association appealed to the Government for support in resisting the demands made by the union soon after the granting by the Arbitration Court of the new award, the Government has not intervened.

Both sides to the dispute stand firm by them declarations of policy. Every means of reaching a settlement would seem to have been exhausted, but there is understood to be a possibility that a tribunal may be set up under the Strikes and Lock-outs Emergency Regulations. A statement issued to-day by the Auckland Master Builders’ Association said the builders, with all the other employers, were emphatic that the Court’s decision. should be upheld. Practically every builder in Auckland and South Auckland had advised that they are 100 per cent, behind the Association. The union had said the employers were creating a lockout. This was not so. Jobs would remain open to all tradesmen, except members of the Carpenters’ Union. Employing organisations are rallying to the support of the master builders, and the more militant sections of the trades union movement are aligning themselves with the carpenters. The union is preparing a register as from to-morrow of all members unemployed, and is discussing the provision of a “lock-out” fund with a probable appeal to the industrial movement. The Plasterers’ Union has offered a contribution of £5O. The carpentry trainees with the Rehabilitation Department are not involved in the dispute. ,

MOVE FOR SETTLEMENT BY FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Tribunal May be Set Up P.A. WELLINGTON, Feb. 17 After hearing representations from the New Zealand Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union to-day, the National Council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, instructed the National Executive of the Federation to take steps for the settlement of the dispute over tne carpenters' award conditions through all of the available avenues of negotiation and conciliation. Although it has not been officially announced, efforts are being macle to arrange for the sitting of the tribunal under the Strike and Lockout Regulation, a condition being a return to normal in relations between the employers and the workers in Auckland, and an agreement, on both sides, to accent, the decision of the tribunal.

So far, however, no indication is available as to whether the parties in Auckland agree to accept these conditions.

Asked to-night whether steps were being taken to set up a tribunal, the Minister of Labour. Hon. A.. McLagan, said that he had nothing to say. The Carpenters’ Union announced that it received to-day, from the National Council of the Federation of Labour, the copy of a resolution which the Council had adopted, declaring that, if necessary, it would give its moral and financial support to the Carpenters’ Union, by recommending the affiliations to support an appeal in this direction, if the employers carried out their threat to lock the employees out.

N.Z. Union to Give Maximum Aid to

Auckland Carpenters

WELLINGTON, February 17.

The national president of the union, Mr F. L. Langley, of Christchurch, and the national secretary, Mr Roy Stanley, of Auckland, stated to-day that all resources of the New Zealand Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union are being placed at the disposal of the Auckland branch of the organisation during the present industrial trouble, and the union has asked the national council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour for assistance.

A statement issued by Messrs Langley and Stanley said the national council of the union unanimously supported the action of the Auckland branch in its efforts to obtain justice, and, “in view of the employers’ action in locking out the Auckland members of the union, the council placed the full resources of the national union at the disposal of the Auckland branch in order to ensure victory”. The council called upon all branches for their immediate, utmost financial support, and had resolved that members not directly involved in the dispute be levied £1 a week during the currency of the dispute. Messrs Langley and Stanley said they havl waited to-day on the national council of the Federation of Labour and urged that it give all moral and financial support to the carpenters, and to call upon its affiliations for similar support. The statement went on: “It is apparent to the council of this union that the lock-out by the Auckland builders, supported by other employers and the Chamber of Commerce, is an attack designed to frustrate action by any section of the workers who may seek to improve their conditions. "For this reason the dispute concerns all workers and their organisations”. „ ~ . It was reported this afternoon that the national council of the Federation of Labour is to consider the carpenters’ representations.

Clerical Workers’ Wage. Claims

Further evidence for the employers in the clerical workers’ dispute was presented by Mr J. R- Hanlon in the Arbitration Court at Wellington vesterday. The court reserved its decision.