N.Z. WORKERS’ UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 9

N.Z. WORKERS’ UNION

A SERIES OP RESOLUTIONS, , '' At a meeting of tho New Zealand Workers* Union held in the Trades Hall last evening, the president (Mr J. E, MacManua) explained that at the June conference in 1921' the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Worla, promised that men employed on , scheduled works would be paid the wages provided in the agreement with the New Zealand Workers’ Union, and that relief work rates would only be paid on temporary work to inexperienced men. He contrasted this promise with the action, of the Minister . in paying relief rates on the Beaumont railway extension. The following resolution was “That whereas, on October 20, 1920 (vide Hansard No. 35, page 875), the Public Works Statement ■ contained the following:. “Lawrencc-Roxburgh—Work on this line, ex- • tending the formation beyond Beaumont, will be resumed as the. men become available from the Otago Central railway. Meanwhile the work is being pegged out.’ And whereag "• the men are only paid relief work wages, the , Minister of Works be approached to pay full ' wages.” , . The meeting also discussed the accident which happened at Beaumont, by which four men were injured, and tho following xeeohi- ' tions were carried;—“That this meeting demands that all workers in Government employment be brought under the Ston© Quarries Act, and that all tunnel workers bo brought under the Mining Act.” “That the conference consult a solicitor with the object of taking action for compensation for wilful negligence, as necessary safeguards which must be observed in private employment are' continually violated in Government employment.” . ■■■.fkl’-j The recent briokmakers’ award was also discussed, and the hours clause was regarded as a violation of the Labour Charter of -the Peace Treaty. A resolution was carried calling on the conference to devise means of . frustrating such reactionary tendencies, that coinjiel men to work’«. 13-hour shift, and bo paid less on night than on day shift. ! The following • resolutions were, carried: —, “ That the Arbitration Act h© amended to empower the judge to review wages from the pre-war standard, instead of-from September 1920, so that the workers shall ; not lose any purchasing power in any odjuislmen :s ” ' .■ • ■■■■■■ ', ■ ‘ ; ' That with tho object of presenting a. uritid front to the enemy the ■ New Zealand Workers’ Union affiliate with :tha Alliance of Labour, and build up a forirti of organisation strong enough to compel instead of eternally beseeching favours from our opponents.” - '-'i "That the above resolution be forwarded to the annual conference of the New Zealand Workers’ Union.”