WAGES REDUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18755, 8 January 1923, Page 3

WAGES REDUCTION

STRIKE BALLOT IN PROGRESS. ALLIANCE OF LABOUR'S MOVE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. January 6. The New Zealand Alliance of Labour is taking a. strike ballot, closing on January 15. on the question of ceasing work as a prottv* against the reduction of wages ordered by the Arbitration Court last year. The waterside workers, who are affiliated with the alliance, have also taken a separate V,allot, in respect to their own award, and the re-nlt is expected to bo announced in a few days. Regarding the alliance’s action, the assistant secretary of the Employers’ Federation states (hat employers generally are not greatly concerned over (ho possibility of a gener.il strike, as they cannot, imagine any lender who would accept the responsibility' for ordering it. even had it been approved by a ballot. The probability of the workers desiring lo strike is even more remote. A strike on a large scale would throw the dominion hack into the depression from which it is emerging, but could not be successful, aa it would not have public support. A general strike would bo a severe blow to trade unionism, and be the end of ihe Alliance of Labour. An official of one important union says; The alliance has done nothing but talk ever since it came into existence, and by its own constitution it has stultifiied itself time and again. “R the opportune time to strike is now," ho .says, “then the seamen must have been in the wrong when they left of! work early in November.’’ In alliance circles it is stated that the ballot is no mere threat at all, as alleged but will be noted upon (if the verdict is favourable) by the executive calling out all affiliated organisations. It. is considered (hat the workers will ho able to stand the financial strain of a prolonged struggle. A gentleman closely in touch with the industrial pi (nation savs that the strike is a d'rect challenge to (he arbitration syslem. and argues that the fact that the cost of living is falling is evidence that the employers have passed on the reductions in wages to tHe public.