DUTIES REFUSED
AUCKLAND FIREMEN DISAGREEMENT OVER AWARD PA AUCKLAND, Dec. 23. Since 7 o’clock this morning, the officers and men of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board have refused routine duties. Because of failure to obtain an agreement with the board over wages and conditions for officers, 110 officers and men have decided to man the watchrooms and answer fire calls, but to accept no other work. Fifteen stations in the board’s area, which extends from Otahuhu to Avondale, are all affected by the decision. Calls to four minor fires in the board’s area were answered with despatch. Negotiations are in train for two awards, one for the officers and the other for the men, between the Fire Brigades’ Employees’ Union and the Fire Boards Employers’ Union. Only one day has so far been spent in conciliation on the men’s award, and a hitch has occurred over conciliation for the officers’ award.
The deupty-chairman of the Fire Board, Mr S. A. Gleadow. who is one of the assessors, stated that agreement had been reached on 90 per cent, of the clauses, but the question of wages and routine hours remained undecided. Mr Gleadow said that these questions should go to the Arbitration Court. It had been agreed that wages adjustments should be retrospective to September 3, and there did not seem to be any necessity for the present action of the staff. It was reported that the union is hoping that the tribunal will consider its claims.
The union’s representative, Mr A. L. Monteith, would make no comment on the dispute. The matter has been referred to the secretary of the Labouir Department, Mr H. L. Bockett. and the inspector of fire brigades, Mr H Girling-Butcher.
As a result of the decision of the officers and men, all routine duties at the board’s stations were neglected to-day. Fire stations were not swept, drills were not carried out, and brass work was not polished. “ The turn out to calls has been as efficient and as smart as ever,” stated an officer. “We have determined that this dispute will not be permitted in any way to hazard life or property or to affect either the machines or the fire-fighting equipment.”
DUTIES REFUSED
Otago Daily Times, Issue 26963, 24 December 1948, Page 8
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