TROUBLE OCCURS WITH TAXI MEN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 11

TROUBLE OCCURS WITH TAXI MEN.

GOLD BAND DRIVERS CONCERNED IN DISPUTE.

Trouble occurred between the management and the drivers employed by the Gold Band Taxis firm to-day. For a short period, the drivers, numbering about fifty, refused to take their cars out, but when the manager asked anyone who was dissatisfied to hand in his keys and leave the premises, all the drivers resumed duty. The dispute arose over the conditions under which the men work. Two drivers who were dismissed yesterday alleged that improper deductions had been made from their share of the takings of their cars. Refusal to take Jobs. trouble began when the two men were dismissed for alleged agitating. As a result the men held a meeting to-day. Shortly after noon, the men came in with their cars and when several drivers were told to go out on jobs they refused. One man who decided to go out met with a hostile reception from the others and found that his car would not go. The engine, it is alleged, had been “doctored." The leaders in the agitation addressed the men, who decided unanimously to stop work until their demands had been agreed to. They refused to go out in their cars and decided to stop anyone who attempted to take a car out. A Failure. “ The strike was a failure," said Mr A. D. Day, manager, speaking on behalf of the proprietor, Mr C. S. Trillo. Mr Day stated that two men had been dismissed for agitating, and a meeting had been organised by these men and attended by about 50 others. The men threatened to strike, so a notice was put up stating that anyone who was dissatisfied could hand in his ' keys. The men handed in their keys and the police were called to put the two men who had been dismissed off the premises. All the other drivers then asked for their keys and took their cars out again, concluded Mr Day.