TRAM WORKERS

Southland Times, Issue 22217, 9 January 1934, Page 5

TRAM WORKERS

GRADING REDUCED

CHRISTCHURCH BOARD’S

DECISION

VOLUNTEERS DURING STRIKE

(Per United Press Association.)

Christchurch, January 8

When the tramway strike occurred at Christchurch in Maj' 1932, most of the motormen and conductors on the trams left their work. The trams were kept running partly bj’ employees who refused to leave work at the call of the union and partly by volunteer workers who took the positions vacated by the strikers. When the strike was settled by an arbitrator, Mr A. T. Donnelly, it was stipulated that those volunteer workers who had discharged their duties satisfactorily be allowed to retain their positions. This meant that an equal number of strikers -were not re-absorbed into the service and others were reduced in grade. The new Tramway Board, on which all but two are Labour members, today decided in effect that the seniority of the disrated strikers be restored to them and that the men who joined the service during the strike be reduced in grading accordingly.

Under the resolution 19 motormen will be reduced to conductors and will lose wages of 4/- to 7/- weekly. At the meeting of the board to-day, Mr C. E. Jones, the onlj’ member of the board who was a Citizens Association nominee, protested against the proposal, saying it would be unjust to the volunteer workers. He also said these workers would surety appeal and would probably win their cases.

Mr W. J. Walter, independent member, opposed the reduction of volunteer workers’ pay. The Labour members all supported the resolution.