THREAT OF DIRECT ACTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23347, 2 November 1945, Page 4

THREAT OF DIRECT ACTION

Injustice Alleged To Apprentices

(N.Z.P.AO AUCKLAND, Nov. 1. A recommendation mat, direct acu„.. should be instituted tnrougnout Nev. Zealand if agreement is nut reaciitwnn the employers regarding the letrospective payment oi the wages increase to apprentices m me enßuieeiuig trades was made at a stop-worn meeting or Auckland engineers, boilermakers and moulders in the 1 own Hali Lissatistaction had been expressed a. the lact that the recent wages increase for apprentices was made retrospective to July 1 instead of to April 1. and the meeting was called to discuss the position. Approximately 4000 workers attended the meeting, which was the first slop-work meeting they had held in Auckland. About 3aoo were seated and the remainder had to stand tor the two hours which the meeting lasted. The secretary of the Auckland branch of the Engineers’ Union, Mr J. Mackie, said the opposition ot the Employers Association had resulted in the wage increases to apprentices being made retrospective only’ t° July 1 instead of to April 1, as had been the case with all other workers. He said the last amendments to apprenticeship orders which were very minor ones, were made in 1939, and thus apprentices had not participated in the recent 3d an hour increase which was granted to all other workers from April 1. The following resolution was carried: “That in view of the unjust treatment accorded apprentices and the action of the Employers' Association in opposing tlie retrospective payment of increases in wages to apprentices to April 1. 1945. tills mass .‘top-work meeting of members of the Engineering. Boilermakers' and Moulders’ Unions and apprentices endorses the actions of the National Engineers’ Union and recommends that, failing 'he National Council being able to reach agreement with the employers • n till i ‘-tic. direct action be instituted hro'.'ghout New Zealand to force a ' lenient of tlie just claims of appren-