WORKERS’ UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 3596, 13 February 1923, Page 12

WORKERS’ UNION

THRESHING MILL WAGES. ( A meeting of the New Zealand Workers’ Union was field here yesterday, Mr Barrowclough presiding. Mr A. Cook, of the central office (Wellington), was present. It, was resolved that the secretary be instructed to enforce the preference to unionists clause in awards of the court applying to threshing mill, lime and cement, match factory, and brick and tile ivofters. Speaking to the motion, which was moved by a member, ivir Steve Boreham (secretary) said that nen-menibers of the union cost more money to pacify than a dozen fully-paid-up members. As a matter of act, mem- % bers seldom made any complaints to him. These slackers, continued Mr Boreham, are a menace to the employers and a nuisance (o the union. While he was an officer of the New Zealand Workers’ Union he would under no circumstances approach an employer or report a complaint from an individual where an employee in an industry was appointed by his fellow-workers as a factory steward, check inspector, or representative of the union on the job. To his mind it was not the duty of a union officer to come on to a job and nose out something to complain of or listen to the grievances, real or imaginary, of all and sundry. All complaints should reach the union through the union’s representatives on the job. Subsequently a meeting of the threshing mill section was held. Mr A. Cook, of the central office, presiding. The secretary. Mr Boreham, said that after deducting the September cut of lid per hour, and the December cut of §d per hour, the wage per hour for threshing this season remained at Is 8d per hour. He explained that he had already advised certain millowners that, the wage this season would be Is BJd per hour. He had not, until the visit of Mr Cook, been aware that the December cut would apply this season. He would, however, take every opportunity of correcting his former instructions, and mark each award delivered to the union’s representatives at the threshing mills with the correct wage payable. It was resolved that the secretary advise all mill representatives that should any farmer refuse to pay the award rates —viz., 2s per hour; or, after deducting the amount of the court’s order. Is 8d per hour, the mill must not be held up, but work must proceed, and the mill representative'' notify the secretary. Trades iiall, Dunedin, of any such refusal by any farmer to pay award rates. It was also resolved that where farmers and non-members of the union were committing a breach of Ihe award in this or any other respect, immediate action be taken by the local secretary to bring such breach under the notice of the authorities, but in no case shall the local secretary take any action to recover wages paid less than the award rate to non members of the union.