CANTERBURY DRIVERS' UNION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 866, 18 November 1916, Page 15

CANTERBURY DRIVERS' UNION.

A general meeting of the Canterbury Drivers- Union was held at the Trade's Hall last night, Mr J. 1). Fraser presiding. . Correspondence was received from the Auckland and Wellington Drivers' Unions relative to the dissatisfaction existing in connection with the Dominion award for drivers, recently issued by the court. It was unanimously resolved to endorse the protests made by the drivers' unions in other centres, and to make common cause with them in n united effort to obtain redress. It was decided to join the newly-form-ed Transport Workers' Federation, and to inform Mr A. Parian e, secretary of the Drivers' Federation, Wellington, that the Canterbury Drivers' Union is in favour of the Drivers' Federation immediately linking up with alt other transport workers' organisations, as ihe drivers, after having failed to obtain justice from the Arbitration Court, must resort to other measures to obtain relief. It was further resolved:—(a) "That this meeting of Canterbury drivers, having fully considered the recent award made by the Arbitration Court, in connection with the drivers of the Dominion, is of opinion that the Arbitration Court is simply a bulwark of protection for the exploitation of the working class and ihe perpetuation of sweated conditions of employment, and no longer merits the confidence of Labour organisations." (b) "That this meeting strongly urges the Government to at once appoint a commission to inquire into nil the facts in connection with the drivers' dispute, as, in our opinion, the court's decision is wholly biased in the employers' favour, and against the weight of evidence submitted." (c) "That all other unions be approached with a view to securing their support to enable drivers to obtain a more reasonable wage than £2 12/- and £2 16/- for 32 hours and JJG hours' work per week. respectively." (d) "Further, as the drivers of the Dominion have been striving for many years to obtain payment for nil time worked, including attendance upon horses, we affirm that there shall be no industrial pence until this important principle is conceded and drivers placed upon the same basis as all other classes of workers."