TAWA FLAT TUNNEL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 12

TAWA FLAT TUNNEL.

STOPPAGE OF WORK. THE MEN’S GRIEVANCE. STATEMENT BY UNION SECRETARY. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, December 15. The Secretary of the Railway Construction Workers' Union (Mr A. Cook) made the following statement regarding the position to-day : “ With respect to the stoppage of work on Tawa Flat tunnel the whole trouble has been caused through the contractors not promptly meeting the representatives of the men for the purpose of having an agreement drawn up to cover the contract. 1 approached the contractors five weeks ago on behalf of the men, but never since that time have they stated a definite time when th e conference would take place. It was at first suggested that the agreement which is in force between the Public Works Department and the New Zealand Workers’ Union should cover the contract but this was quite impossible, because there aye clauses in the Public Works Department agreement which the contractors would not agree to, and which could not have been binding on either side. The union has had a lot of experience in similar contracts, including the Aranuni contract, but we have never previously met employers who side-stepped us. Similarly the latest offer made by the contractors was to meet the men’s representatives in a conference on Sunday next, but the men considered that the conditions on the job were so bad that it was impossible for them to wait any longer. On behalf of'the men, I had an interview with Mr Burnside yesterday afternoon, and used every means to prevent trouble taking place, but I could make no progress with the contractors. Mr Burnside said that if necessary he would put the tunnel through with non-union labour. Ever since the men have formed a branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union the contractors have adopted pinprickins tactics awards the men’s officials; in the first place refusing to recognise the check inspector, and on one occasion refusing liim admittance to the tunnel when he was sent for by the men to inspect a wet place. He was then transferred to outside work, and his wages reduced 2s per shift, and he was later discharged. Shortly afterwards the president and secretary of the union were both discharged without being given any reason, in spite of the fact that both of these men were competent tunnollers and have worked for contractors on similar works throughout the Dominion. “ In reference to wages, the wages that have been paid are the lowest that have ever been paid to tunnel workers in New Zealand. They have ranged from 16s to 255, tho latter wage being paid to one or two shift bosses only. The bis majority of the men were receiving only 18s per shift. For a similar class of work in much better country at Arapuni and Lake Coleridge 25s was the lowest wage paid per shift. The officers who wer o discharged by the contractors worked on the latter jobs for long periods and gave every satisfaction to their contractors. It, therefore, appears to be a ejear case of victimisation of the union ’officials. The statement that 25s was demanded for all underground workers is incontct. 1 was instructed on behalf of the men to forward to th e contractors claims and conditions to which the men had agreed, but they were to serve as the basis of discussion when n conference took place, and were by no means in the form of a demand. The nature of the country in which the tunnel is being driven is most difficult and dangerous, and minor accidents were of daily occurrence, many of the men having been under the doctor, and a decent rate of wages ‘should be paid for this class of work. In the opinion of the union the contract price was altogether too low, and this appears to be the reason for the contractors not, wishing to enter into an agreement with the men. The action taken by the men is, I think, justified, and tho union has advised all workers not to accept work on this job before a settlement has been reached. More men have been dismissed on this job since it started than on any similar job known to the union where the same number of men have been employed. The men are competent tunnel workers. “ At a stop-work meeting following resolution was carried—‘ That all work cease from 4 p.rn. to-day, and no start shall be made until the employers agree to meet the men’s representatives in conference.’ ”