TRAMWAY STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21646, 17 May 1932, Page 8

TRAMWAY STRIKE

FINDING OF THE TRIBUNAL

ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. The tramway strike tribunal’s decision says that the board shall employ up to GO of the new men, and complete its normal staff by selection from the members now on strike. The charges of victimisation are held disproved. The board accepts the finding Mr A. T. Donnelly (chairman ot the tribunal) adds: “I express no opinion on the moral responsibility of either party for the strike, but the strike has hurt and will hurt the community and individual citizens in many different ways, and I do say that the strike was without necessity or excuse. I heard evidence and arguments on both sides, and the charges and counter chargee which were made, and in my opinion it was proved that during the critical days and hours before the strike and immediately after the strike the differences between the board and the union, when fully explained and clearly understood, were unimportant in principle and insignificant in fact. At the tribunal hearing both parties through their representatives and officers calmly and earnestly sought to agree, but failed because of the employment of the new men.” OUTLINE OF FINDINGS PROVISION FOR NEW MEN DISPUTE WHOLLY UNNECESSARY. (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. The Tramway Board has accepted the decision of the chairman of the tribunal (Mr Donnelly), the main points of which are:— ' “ 1. The board shall as soon as possible select for permanent employment suitable and efficient new men ,up to. but not exceeding, GO in number. There are 117 new men now employed. In making the selection the board shall require a high standard of promise and efficiency from the new men it selects. I make this stipulation because it was admitted by the board that the men dismissed prior to the strike were competent and had good records, and were dismissed by reason of retrenchment and for no other reason. “2. After making the above selection the board shall complete the normal staff by selection from the members of the union now on strike, including the president of the union and other men dismissed just before' the strike, and shall not go outside the members of the union for that purpose. “3. In addition to completing the 1 normal staff as above set out, the board shall give temporary employment to 20 men from members of the union for a period between the present time and the date of the new agreement with the union, which agreement must soon be made. “ In my opinion the charge of victimisation brought against the executive officers of the board completely failed in every case except that of the president of the union, and in his case was not proved. The president, as part of the duties of his office, has been the agent of the union in urging union claims upon the board, and it was admitted that he was competent, and his record was practically indistinguishable from that of any other man in the service. The board was unwise in dismissing the president when it did, because it was then in serious conflict with the union, and should have foreseen what did actually happen—namely, that a charge of victimisation would be made, which in the circumstances could neither be proved by the union nor refuted by the board.” Mr Donnelly adds; “If the temper ot both sides at the earlier conferences had been as moderate as before the tribunal I believe the dispute would have been settled without a strike.” ATTITUDE OF THE UNION REJECTION OF DECISION ALTERNATIVE BASIS PROPOSED. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. Members of the union held meetings this afternoon and evening to consider the award made by Mr Donnelly and the tribunal. At the conclusion of the meeting tonight the union made a statement which, in effect, is a rejection of the decision of the chairman of the tribunal on the ground that it is too indefinite to be acted upon. The union makes an offer to the board of another basis of settlement—that all the traffic staff be reinstated in their former positions, and that they ration the work with, the CO volunteers who, Mr Donnelly stipulates, must be retained in employment. The union make a proviso that all other members of the union in other departments be reinstated in their former positions.