THE LABOUR WORLD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 18

THE LABOUR WORLD.

TH£ BOOTMAKERS' UNION.

A mooting of the Bootmakers' Union was held on Monday morning to consider tho report of tho delegates of the Union who had just returned from the sitting of tho Arbitration Court at Christchurch. Tho meeting was a largo and thoroughly representative one, 125 members being present. The points in dispute, which were settlod by tho Arbitration Court, w«ro in clause 2 of tho employers' statement with regard to freedom of contract. The clause runs as follows :

Employers or employees, either individually or through any organisation, shall not discriminate foi or against any person because he is or is not a member of any organisation. Neither shall there bo any distinction between organised or non-organised labour. Both shall work under the. same conditions and xeceivo equal pay for equal work.

This was struck out and a now clause substituted by tho Court as follows : Employers shall employ members of tho New Zealand Federated Bootmakers' Union in preference to non-members, provided there are members of ,the Union who aro equally qualified with non-members to perform tho particular work required to be dOno, and are ready and willing to undertako it when non-members are employed. There shall be no distinction between members and non-members. Both shall work together and both shall work under tho samo conditions a:<id receive equal pay for equal work. Any dispute under this rule shall bo decided by the chairman of the Conciliation Board for tho district under the Industrial Conciliation Arbitration Act, or if ho shall be uuablo or unwilling to act, then by some person nominated by him not being connocted with tho trade and not being a- manufacturer or employer in any trade. Tho unanimous opinion was expressed by the members at tho meeting yesterday that the award was practically a victory for tho men, and that the principles of unionism had been maintained.

Previous to tho award being given, Mr Arnold (the bootmakers' representative) pledged that tho federation would loyally abide by tho award, and at yesterday's meeting it was unanimously decided to stand by the award, in accordance with this pledge. With regard to a rumour circulated by our evening contemporary that a strike was threatened, the word strike, wo are informed, was never mentioned at tho meeting, and probably novor dreamt of. Tho officers of; the Union express themselves as much incensed at such a report having gamed circulation.