FIRE-FIGHTERS UNITE.

NZ Truth, Issue 416, 14 June 1913, Page 6

FIRE-FIGHTERS UNITE.

The Latest Industrial Organisation. Will the Other Centres Follow? What Secretary Carey Says. The Wellington Fire Brigade Employees' Union is the title of the latest addition to the organised forces of Labor. No doubt the action of the Auckland police m their formation of an association has ' had a far-reaching and desirable effect, and their organisation, combined with the firemen's present move, is, m every fair-mind-ed person's opinion, a step m the right direction.- The men 'of the brigade have a decided advantage, as there is no foolish Act of Parliament to prohibit their organisation..^ Consequently the formation of a union is a perfectly legal step, and one, that, m their own interests, should have been made long ago: There is no likelihood of the city authorities attempting to ironheel their employees' laudable efforts TO LEGALLY COMBINE, and spread their^usef ul institution. Commissioner Cullen's and Mr. Herdman's sample of old-world tactics are not likely to be emulated by the reasonable > Fathers x>f the city, or, at least, let us hope .not This' is an age of organised effort, an age of right against might—a nd the former ancient factor has apparently come' to abide with the rising power of the masses. It is not at all an untruthful assertion to make, that the Almighty fights on the. side of the largest battalions. The action of the Wellington fire-fighters is a good omen, and very' likely to be emulated by similar moves m .other centres of New Zealand, particularly at Christchurch and VDunedin. Amalgamation of the various' centres will eventually result, and the union will then be a very efficient, 'compact, and formidable combine. The Wellington men informed '<Truth" that they are heart and soul m the movement, and are fully prepared to go ahead. Condi--tions and prospects, they said, are particularly poot and dispiriting. They, do not expect any friction with the City Council, and they are besides fully satisfied with their officers. The latter, however, have not been requested to join as yet, but may do so when the union is ' ON A SOUND BASIS. ' Mr. E. J. Carey, secretary to the ne.w union, m conversation with "Truth," expressed himself thoroughly satisfied, with the whole-hearted esprit de, corps of the new unionists. "In case," said Mr. Carey, "the city authorities do not come to terms/with the men, we will approach the Arbitration Court, .and abide by' the" results.; The union was formed m record time, and we are now hurrying along with our book of rules. No time has been, lost, and .the ; men are very enthusiastic m the good cause they have taken up. ''Six days shalt thou labor*' is the biblical maxim' adopted by other labor organisations, and the firemen fully recognise the veracity and strength of ; the command. Some -of the grievances are worth dptailing. . The main grievance of ; the men is that they do twenty-four hours' duty per day, and only can secure eleven hours' miserable leave altogether. The- men seek a full ! day^s leave inseven, and, considering their onerous duties, and their irregular hours, it is | not, I think, asking too much. \\ ; W.e do | not seek for any fixed hours, or other impossible regTilatiou, we merely rer quest fair treatment." \ "THE WAGE QUESTION," said Mr. Carey, "of course crops 'up. A man receives £2 x)er week on joining, rising to £2 9s after 21 months' service, the only . Additions are lodging allowances, and uniform that is irregularly supplied, and very often overdue. '■ This matter of uniform needs remedying sad! j% for. l know for a. fact that manY of the men have to use their own clothes even going to fires. Again, the men complain that when they return from these fires, there is ho steam-pipe or any other convenience available to dry their wet clothes. Steam-pipes or a proper dry-ing-room will have to be erected, arid considering the central position of the stations, this would be an easy mat-' ter.':' ; ■'■■•■• ; . ' ■ ':■.'■ "The service is ncj; attractive for married men, arid all the single men m the Wellington centres have less than a year's service. This speaks for itself, I think. The men's lives must be brightened, the service made more attractive, wages increased, and changes of clothes, and larger periods, of rest available. Indeed," : said Mr. Carey, "the. romance of fire-fighting is knocked to pieces >vhen men must turn out many times m wet and -dirty clothes." Mr. Carey intends very shortly to lay the" men's case before the City Council, and it is expected that their claim will be treated reasonably. The public recognise the importance of an efficient Fire Brigade, and efficiency can only be arrived at by considerate measures, proper pay, and other simple means, easily adjusted. Training is a chief factor m efficiency, but if the men are generally discontented and qnitting the service every ' other day, there can be no real efficiency. The new union was formally registered on the 10th inst-., and all the men m the Wellington stations are enrolled. "THINGS HAVE BEEN BAD," one burly fireman said, "but our union is determined to improve matters. Wellington is the worst- place m New Zealand for firemen, and we were all scared a time ago. We are not so now. We are loyal and strong-." ■