WILL THEY STRIKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19846, 15 January 1920, Page 6

WILL THEY STRIKE.

THE TRAMWAY DISPUTE,

NEGOTIATIONS COLLAPSE.

The claimsof the Christchurch tramwaymen for increased wages have been refused by he board, and -the situation to-day is somewhat strained. While there arc hints in various quarters of a. possible strike, no steps of any Kind will bo decided upon till Tuesday, when the Tramwaymen's Union will “ discuss the_ matter. In the meantime the various aspects of the question are being discussed by the Transport Workers’ Advisory Board in Wellington. A communication from the board will possibly be the most important business for discussion at next 'week’s meeting of the union.

At the conference between representatives of the Tramway Board and the Jramwayraen’s Union two da vs ago negotiations came to a standstill over tho proposed minimum wage of conductors. At present tho minimum wngo tor a first year conductor is Is 3Jd, which is made up of the award rate of Is IJd per hour and two bonusesof about a penny each- Tho union now asks that tho minimum be Is Bd. The employers at the Wellington conference offered Is od, the there is littlo chance of that offer being increased. Until the minimum wage question'is settled too other clauses in the union's demands will not be touched on. “Wo are unanimous in claiming Is 8cl,” said a tram wayman, “ The lowest industrial agreement in existence gives other workers Is 6d, and that is to.be brouglv. up to Is 7d an hour by tho latest bonus-”

. Other demands are 2* an ionr for signalmen, and for motormen and grip<nien in their second year; Is lOd for motormen and gripmen in their first year; Is lOd for conductors in their second year and after*. 48 hours a- week for traffic men, and 44 hours a week for all others; overtime at the rate of time and a half for two hours, with don ole tune thereafter and on Sundays The conference with the union's representatives broke down over the wages question; nothing: else was discussed, •’ said Mr F. Thompson, general manager of the Tramway Board. Mr Thompson said that the transnort Workers’ Advisory Board had recent* ■-* asked for another conference with the employing) bodies, and there was no other development that he was aware of. That request had still to be considered and replied to.