Firemen Take Stand Against Unionism

Te Puke Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 15, 25 February 1949, Page 1

Firemen Take Stand Against Unionism

DECISION REAFFIRMED AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Their derision to refuse to join llie fire industrial unions was vehemently reafirmed liy volunteer firemen at the annual conference of file United Fire Brigadt'Js Association of New Zealand at ILtwera recently: A remit from the FI a sting's Ui”<>'nde, suggesting immediate action if the ifovernment does not agree to the pressure on volunteers, was considered and carried liy the conference, which discussed the union question for a dav and a-lialf.

This remit means that the executive will advise the Government that it had been instructed to take drastic action within 30 days of the opening o£ the next session of Parliament unless exemption from joining the brigades’ unions was granted.

The Department of Internal-' Affairs was concerned in fire fighting efficiency said the under-secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, Mr F. B. Stephens, but from the legal and administrative viewpoint, the problem was one for the Department of Labour and Employment. “We are not here to ram, something down your throats," he added. “We want to seek an equitable solution to the impasse. We want to solve a difficulty that has lasted too long." - Unions Initiate Proceedings

After the first three conferences had thided without a decision toeing reached, the unions had initiated proceedings through the conciliation courts, said the registrar of industrial unions of the Department of Labour and Employment, Mr C. Smith, Wellington. His department had suggested a further, conference of the interested parties, with an independent chairman whose decision would be accepted bv all parties in the event Of their not coming to a: decision among themselves. This would be incorporated in the awards. The unions had agreed to this suggestion, but the United Fire Brigades Association had requested further information before giving its decision. It was then suggested that the conference go into committee to enable the Government officials to speak niore freely. This was not accepted kindly by the delegates. Mr Stephens explain-, ed that he and Mr Smith were prepared to discuss the problem freely in committee, but they could not bind the Government.

A delegate: “Is that why the Minister did not come? He had something to hide?

"I must object to that," replied Mr Stephens, “He is at the Municipal Conference which begins at Napier today. ’ Put to the conference a motion to go into committee and exclude the Press', was defeated and the discussion was continued in open meeting.

The president. Superintendent L. L Ross. (Hokitika) said that Messrs Stephens. and Smith would, at their discretion, answer anv questions of delegates.

All men and women who did anything for hire or remuneration were defined as workers under the Industrial Arbitration and. Conciliation Act. icplicd Mr Smith in answer to questions. If the fire brig- de viniohs submitted claims to tlie industrial courts the courts would have to, consider; those cl-ims and, provided they were not invalid, they would no doubt incorporate- them in awards. At the conference suggested by the department, the United Fire Brigade's’ Association would, have To abide by the decision of the chairman.

Definition of Volunteer

The problem boiled down to a definition of a volunteer fireman, said Mr Stephens. At one of the previous conferences a tentative definition, not ratified by the parties, was, any fireman receiving over £25 a year would have to join the union. The board received by -a man living on the station would be taken into account in assessing the £25.

Wha t in Mr Stephens’ opinion, con-

stituled a volunteer fireman? asked the foreman of the Raetihi brigade, Mr A. G. Urwin.

“In open conference I. have no persona] opinions,” replied Mr Stephens. "Then perhaps I can give one,” replied Mr Urwin. "We take on the job as volunteer firemen, first to protect our homes. We don’t expect remuneration. We give our tii. . 24'hours a day, for nothing. Under the United Fire Brigades’ Act we receive a retaining fee of 30s-a year and, through the borough councils, 2s 6d an hour when we are called to a fire. Because* we are receiving this small sum we are asked to become members of unions. We are not -a bit interested. We, in our respective jobs, arc members Of a union. Is the gun being held at our heads? Who is going to puli the trigger?"

“Do you think bandsmen and borough councillors who receive some slight remuneration, should be members of unions,” -asked .superintendent T. W. Dowdle (Hawera), Delegates asked if the loss' of wages suffered bv men when they left their regular work to attend a fire, if the loss of clothing and boots at fires, would be taken into account in assessing the £25 a year .proposed as the basis of the definition of volunteers, -Members of smaller brigade's stressed that all they received was their uniform and in many cases equipment was purchased by contributions from members.

“We are not prepared to fight the unions,” said the superintendent of the Mosgiel brigade, Mr J, White. “If we are forced to join, we: won’t, but we won’t cause trouble. We -are still going to do our duties a? firemen and attend fires when the occasion arises.” 1944 Definitions “Volunteer firemen are persons who are enrolled in a 'volunteer brigade by the decision of its members/ whether or not such enrolment is subject to the approval of the local authority and who give their services at drills, practices, at fires and in the fire stations with or without remuneration, but who rely for their living on some other vocation.” This definition, adopted bj the 1944 conference of the U.F.8.A., was read to the meeting toy the secretary, Mr T. J. Watts. The definition of a''volunteer fire brigade was: — “Volunteer fire brigade means any association of. persons authorised by a board and formed for the purpose of extinguishing fires, if the carrying out Of the purpose of such association is not the sole or principal calling or means oT livelihood of such persons oi o.f a majority of them whether such persons receive or do not receive emoluments lor their services as members of the brigade.”

It was asserted that the executive in considering, the .question, should reaffirm the previous conference's definition of volunteer brigades and firemen. The association should continue negotiations, along those lines and no other. Individual brigadesmen should refuse to join the unions. .