THE AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17327, 29 May 1918, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS

MEN COMPLAIN OF WORKING CONDITIONS. STOP-WOBK MEETING TALKED OF. (Fboii Oub Own Cobhespondent.) ■ AUCKLAND. May 28. Tlie industrial dispute between tho Auckland Tramways Company and its employees, which was the subject of a ceoen* agreement, has assumed a further phase, as tho men express dissatisfaction with the rearrangements made by the company in connection with the conditions imposed by thai agreement. A meeting of men hoe been held for the purpose of hoaxing' a report from the.union's representatives at conferences with the company's representatives. It is stated that tho consensus of opinion •was that tho union's representatives had done very good work, but it was considered unfortunate that the chairman (tho Hon. George Fowlds) had not come up to the expectations of the men. At both meetings the alteration was made that the company had made a. readjustment of hours in .depot* which the men deemed unsatisfactory.. It is stated that the whole tone of the meetings was very antagonistic toward the agreement just entered into, the chairman of the conference coming in for considerable adverse criticism on account of what was described as his change of front between tho first and second conferenoee over which lie. presided. It is" alleged by some of the men that since the conference there has been an alteration in tho working conditions of the traffic d&partment. Ixmjr runs, which have been obtained by seniority of service by traffio men, have, it is stated, been reduced to practically an eight-hour day. This monns, say tho men, that these men who gained a weekly increase of from 4e to Sβ under the recent agreement, have, by the curtailment of hours on their former runs, suffered' a loss of from 10s to 15s a week on tho wages they should now be receiving. This ie viewed with considerable concern by the men affected, and they, with other dissatisfied members of the union, presented a requisition that a special meeting bo amvoned, so that the whole position may' be onoe more "reviewed. This meeting will be held on Thursday. It is stated that it is possible a stop-work mooting will be held on Saturday nest