THE BUTCHERS' STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17329, 28 November 1919, Page 6

THE BUTCHERS' STRIKE.

The conference 'on the butchers' dispute has failed to effect a settlement, but it has served a purpose. It has shown very clearly that there should never have been a strike. The case for the employers is that both sides are bound by the award of the Arbitration Court; the case for the employees is that the Court has made a mistake. There is no inclination to move on either side. The employees have placed themselves in an awkward situation. In so far as they are appealing to the public they are seeking, on tie reports of a rather bitter and passionate discussion, a revision of a considered decision of the Arbitration Court. Disinterested persons will shrink from pronouncing judgment in such a case on such evidence. In so far as they are appealing to the employers the employees are in an even worse position. They are on strike ; it is an illegal strike against an award just amended. What attitude can employers take in these circumstances? If they yield'they give intimation to unions that whenever they are dissatisfied with an award they may get more by going on strike. No body of employers, or even of workers, who value the arbitration system would accept responsibility for such a decision. The Butchers' Union has placed itself in the position of fighting the employers, plus the Arbitration Court and the Arbitration Act. It seems from the tenor of the conference that it might have avoided that conflict had it sought conciliation before calling a strike. It still seems that the men may gain something by returning to work and awaiting the Wellington award. That, at all events, is a fair proposition to put to a ballot of the union.