MEN STOP WORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19701, 5 August 1938, Page 14

MEN STOP WORK

WELLINGTON SLIPWAY ACTION AS PROTEST DELAY IN AWARDS S EGRET AR Y DISREG ARDI3 D (Per Press Association ) WELLINGTON, this day. The grave concern and discontent which is reported to exist among the rank and file of a number of trade unions in New Zealand over the delays in issuing awards and in securing fixtures with the Courts of Arbitration for the hearing of applications for new awards, came to a hea'd at Wellington yesterday when a large number of metal workers employed at the patent slip ceased work as a protest. This action was taken against.the advice of the secretary of the Wellington Metal Workers' Union, Mr. E. Kincaid, who endeavoured, without avail, to persuade the men to keep in work. It was pointed out to the men that the date for the hearing of the union's application had been fixed for to-day by the Court of Arbitration in Auckland. Due to unavoidable circumstances, an adjournment for a fortnight had been sought and had been agreed to by the advocate for the union, Mr. F. J. Walsh. The men claim that they, along with several other sections of the industry in the Dominion which have not yet received new awards, are entitled to the rates fixed by the Court of Arbitration in November, 1937, for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers, and that the delays in issuing awards in the disputes already heard by the courts, as well as the delays in securing fixtures for the hearing of applications for new awards, is depriving them of the wages increases to which they are entitled under the pronouncement of the Court of Arbitration. The previous metal workers' assistants award expired on December 21, 1937. Under this men were receiving 2s 3J.d an hour. They claim they areentitled lo at least 2s 7id in accordance with the decision of the court.