EMPLOYERS’ RIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26025, 13 December 1945, Page 4

EMPLOYERS’ RIGHT

“HIRE AND FIRE” WORKERS’ CHALLENGE CANTERBURY RAILWAYMEN (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 12. A motion that when any member of the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants is suspended or dismissed for any reason other than being under the influence of alcohol a stop-work meeting of the branch would be called lias been adopted at meetings in Christchurch, first by the shunters, and second by the guards. An early meeting of country members of the A.S.R.S. in the district has been called, and if it approves of the proposal the decision will be general. Mr A. B. Grant, secretary of the branch, said another proposal was that the Canterbury Trades Council should be requested to call a meeting of all workers, and raise the issue of “ hiring and firing,” to protect the interests of the rank and file of organised industrial workers. “ The employers have said on more than one occasion that they desire the lifting of the man-power regulations in order to dismiss some workers and to discipline others,” said Mr Grant. “The right to hire - and fire of the employers must be challenged by the workers. The first great post-war challenge of this right is already being made in Australia, and in the opinion of many railwaymen, unless the workers do so here immediately, the trades unions will face a slashing attack in the very near future.” “ The class issue, which has been subjugated to war interest in so far as the workers are concerned, will most certainly sharpen when the man-power position eases. The workers must be prepared to take up the challenge, and the right to hire and fire must be wrested from the employing class.” The reason for the motion before the members of the A.S.R.S., said Mr Grant, was their fear that repressive disciplinary action might be taken by administrative executive officers during the anticipated tightening up of conditions in the’service. As the manpower position eased, a certain type of officer (not all) would swing to an extreme in the not unnatural desire to reintroduce stricter discipline in the service. The Dunedin branch of the A.S.R.S. has not held any meetings or taken any action similar to that reported from Christchurch) Its executive considered some of the amended regulations several months ago and entered a protest.