BUILDING DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23375, 17 June 1939, Page 14

BUILDING DISPUTE

STATE HOUSE WORKERS WELLINGTON STOPPAGE MEN REAFFIRM DECISION COURT AWARDS CRITICISED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Friday About 200 men, comprising carpenters, roofers, tilers, steel workers and labourers engaged on the Fletcher Construction Company's State housing work at Sunshine Estate and Karori attended a meeting at the Trades Hall this morning to consider the position arising from a decision to cease_ work yesterday afternoon. The decision was' reaffirmed, and it was further resolved to hold a mass meeting of building trades workers in the Town Hall to-morrow. "Dissatisfaction with the awards recently issued for carpenters and labourers, apart from working conditions at Karori, is stated to be the underlying cause of the cessation of work. In a joint statement concerning the dispute the unions say that the respective unions feel that awards by the Court of Arbitration have been issued against the weight of evidence and statements submitted, and that the men have had a rough deal. Various anomalies had been allowed to continue and it was obvious that the Court had not given close attention to important matters stressed by the workers' advocates. "We are not aiming to harass the Government in its housing policy," said Mr. Butler, secretary of the Builders and General Labourers' Federation, "and if the dispute i? not settled it will probably affect other builders. It is just an accident that the dispute has come to a head on a State housing contract." DISCONTENT IN DUNEDIN NO ACTION AT PRESENT [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Friday Commenting on the building trade position in Wellington Mr.,R. C. Ross, secretary of the Duuedin Carpenters Union, 'stated that his executive had not yet discussed the matter. "I think it unlikely that any action will be taken in Dunedin," Mr. Ross said, "although, of course, I cannot make any definite statement until my executive meets and is able to discuss the position with a full knowledge of the facts." Mr. Ross added that the local union was definitely dissatisfied with the new award and also with the existing practice of transporting the men to the State housing scheme in trucks. "They are boxed in like sheep going to the salevards," he added.