OFFER CHANGED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 490, 27 June 1932, Page 5

OFFER CHANGED.

Reason for Breakdown in Conciliation. MOTOR TRADES DISPUTE. The reason for the unexpected breakdown of negotiations in the industrial dispute affecting the workers in the motor construction industry throughout the Dominion was explained this morning by Mr G. T. Thurston, who was one of the assessors for the employees. It appears that the union representatives proceeded to Wellington prepared to accept the wages offered at the initial conciliation proceedings, but were amazed to find that the employers’ assessors were not willing to abide by their earlier undertaking and sought a reduction in wages equivalent to a 10 per cent cut. Mr Thurston stated that at the first sitting in conciliation the unions were offered 2s an hour for ordinary mechanics and 2s 2d for certificated men, but on Thursday the employers amended their offer to Is lOd and 2s, respectively. The high rate was intended to apply to certificated men, a scheme which was in the process of development, as at present there was no legislation providing for the registration of motor mechanics. “ Three weeks ago the employers offered 2s 2d and 2s, and I will leave it to the public to draw their own conclusions as to what happened,” added Mr Thurston. “ The proceedings lasted three-quarters of an hour, although the employees’ assessors had gone to Wellington prepared to come to finality in regard to other matters in dispute, such as over-time. When it was announced that the wages offer had been reduced, that was the end of the proceedings as the employees’ assessors had no alternative but to refuse the terms of the other side in view of the fact that they had been instructed to refuse Is 10fd offered to engineers. No indication was given during the three weeks’ adjournment of the conciliation proceedings that there was to be any alteration to the earlier offer.” --