Building Workers Want War Conditions In Housing Scheme

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1943, Page 3

Building Workers Want War Conditions In Housing Scheme

(Special) AUCKLAND, This Day. Proposals for the application io all departments of the building industry of the special conditions operating in Defence construction works, has recently been considered by the Industrial Emergency Council and at a conference of representatives of employers and workers, called by the council on account of the employers’ opposition to certain aspects of the proposals. which had been embodied in a draft order entitled “Building Industry Labour Legislation Suspension Order.” The matter. lias been referred to the Government. Mr F. Craig, secretary to the Timberworkers Union, and spokesman for the building trades, said the proposed order planned to get cn with the job of dealing net only with defence work but with housing, which unionists claim came under the heading “war emergency." It was obvious to everyone that something must be done for the housing and rehabilitation of returning men, who are deserving of the best. Employers, prior to this, had repeatedly urged the extension of hours and now had got it. The draft order provides for a 48-hour week at wages calculated on the same basis as the defence order rates, payment of fares, and travelling time, and a guaranteed weeklv wage of £5/10/-. In addition to the draft order, there has been referred to the Government a proposal by the unions that the order should provide for an annual paid holiday of seven working days. Employers’ Objection Representatives of the employers strongly opposed Die proposals, contending that as' defence works are approaching completion, the industry should return to the conditions of current awards. They objected to the subjecting of private building operations to the terms and conditions adopted in an emergency for urgent defence works. They protested that increasing the hours of work upon non-essential building, which automatically increases the cost of such work, is not in accordance with the Government’s policy for stabilisation of wages and prices and is not in the national interests.