CHRISTCHURCH STRIKE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 141, 17 May 1932, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH STRIKE.

The award of the tribunal wdiich both parties to the Christchurch tramway strike accepted was delivered yesterday. Briefly, the Board is given the right to employ up to 60 of the- men w-ho volunteered for v-ork when the trams ceased running, and to complete its normal staff by selections from the men on strike. The charges of victimisation generally have been disproved. It will be sincerely hoped that this finding will pave the way to peace in the tramway service of Christchurch, and that the bitterness caused by the strike w-ill soon pass aw-ay. The dispute arose through the necessity for economy on the Board’s part to meet reduced earnings caused by the depression. At the end of last year authority was obtained to dispense with conductors on trailers, but action was deferred until the holiday season was over. Then, as an alternative, an offer was made to ration the work, but the men were only askect to lose one day in three -weeks. It was thought that the period would not extend beyond two months. The union gave its consent, but by the end of March, as there was still a surplus in staff, the Board urged that the rationing system be continued. The union refused to agree, and 12 men were dismissed by the Board in the absence of any alternative. Alleging victimisation, the union threatened to strike unless the men were reinstated, it being contended that holidays should be arranged to absorb the surplus for relief work, and that a new agreement, to operate after next month, should provide for shorter hours with pay on the same basis as. hitherto. The outcome of the trouble was that the men went on strike. Volunteers were not slow to respond to the call _ for labour, and the Board maintained a fairly good day service. Now sixty of these men will receive the right of employment, and a corresponding number' _of tramwaymen are thrown into the ranks of the unemployed. The pity is that sane counsels did not prevail at the. outset, which would have avoided suffering through loss of regular work.