DUNEDIN FIREMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25881, 27 June 1945, Page 4

DUNEDIN FIREMEN

DISPUTE UNSETTLED STATEMENT BY BOARD No settlement has yet been reached of the dispute between the Dunedin Fire Brigades’ Union and the Metropolitan Fire Board. At a meeting held yesterday the board heard representations from members of the union executive, but no satisfactory solution to the impasse was found. In the meantime, it is understood that the men will continue to perform only the essential duties of fire-fighting and maintaining the alarm system. The following statement was issued by the board after the meeting yesterday:—“A special meeting of the board was held to-day to consider the position which had arisen through the firemen refusing to carry out certain of their duties. Presentation of Claim “The position is that a claim was presented to the board by the union, through the Arbitration Court, on February 13 last, asking for certain increases in terms of the No. 5 Amendment to the Economic Stabilisation Regulations. These claims amounted to approximately 25s per man. As a consequence the board appointed a sub-committee of three of its members, including the chairman (Mr W. W. Callender), and two members, to meet representatives of the union. “This meeting was held, and, after discussion, two of the board members stated to the union delegation that they would recommend to the board that it agree to an increase of 11s 8d per week, although they had no power to commit the board. At the last monthly meeting of the board, held on Tuesday, the sub-committee reported on the matter, and the board resolved that it would agree to an increase of Us 3d a week, as discussed previously with the union representatives: Mr McDonnell, the secretary of the union, who is also a member of the board, was present at the board meeting when the matter was discussed and the resolution was passed. “ Several of the board members were of the opinion that the union’s application should be submitted to the court for its decision, as there was uncertainty as to the amount of the increase that would be applicable in this particular case. Mr McDonnell, with a full knowledge of the procedure to be followed in these cases, did not inform the board that the application must in any case come before the court for ratification. Consequently, the board was of the opinion that there was no necessity to go to the court. Had it known that this procedure was necessary It is certain that the whole matter would have been referred to the court, and its decision accepted by both parties. “ The chairman was not given authority by the board to sign any documents for ratification by the court nor was the decision of the board in any way communicated to the union except in a completely unauthorised and irregular manner by Mr McDonnell and without the knowledge of the board. No agreement of any kind was reached between the board and the union. All that took place between the board and the union was merely a discussion. A Difference in Amounts

“On Monday, June 25, Mr McDonnell, as secretary of the union, delivered to the board’s secretary a document for signature by the board asking the court to agree to an alteration m the basic rates of pay. This was the first knowledge the board members, excepting Mr McDonnell, had that this matter required any reference to or consideration by the court, though he knew all along that such procedure was necessary. The chairman did not have authority to sign such a document. In any case, it differed from the terms of the resolution of the board in that the amounts mentioned in it exceeded those mentioned in the resolution. The chairman rightly stated that he had no authority to sign any document, let alone one which differed from the decision of the board. Mr McDonnell then called the union together and, apparently on his advice, it took precipitate action on the lines already reported.

“ Had Mr McDonnell a better appreciation of his position and had he acted with a little more discretion and patience, the present difficulty would never have arisen.”'