A LABORERS' GRIEVANCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 222, 31 December 1910, Page 5

A LABORERS' GRIEVANCE

AGAINST A CITY COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Friday. As reported yesterday, the General Laborers' Conference resolved to attempt to secure better conditions without an appeal to the Arbitration Court. The City Council is perhaps the chief employer of the general laborer in the city, and against it the union has a grievance. It is that the council will not pay travelling expenses as provided by the award. It is alleged by the union that the council deliberately defeats the purpose of the award by having small buildings erected in different parts where laborers are employed and styles these its places of business, thus the work is never far from the place of business, and it is contended by representatives of the union that that practically amounts to defrauding the men of the allowance to which they are justly and equitably entitled. The conference decided to approach the council shortly for better terms. If the plea of the laborers is not sucessful, it is resolved that the question of travelling allowances and better conditions generally for corporation laborers shall be made a test question at the coming mayoral and municipal elections. Other local bodies besides the City Council are involved.