"STAR CHAMBER METHODS.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 492, 29 June 1932, Page 7

"STAR CHAMBER METHODS.”

Tramway Union Official’s Charge Against the Board.

DISPUTE OYER PROPOSED AGREEMENT. A CHARGE that the Christchurch Tramway Board favours “ Star Chamber methods,” unless it suits the board to give publicity - to certain matters, was made this morning by the secretary of the Tramway Employees’ Union (Mr E. Snow) in commenting on objections raised by - the general manager of the board (Mr Frank Thompson) to the publication of details of the proposed new agreement. This departure from “ courteous custom,” in Mr Thompson’s opinion, was not conducive to “ a conciliatory spirit.” In advising the secretary of the union that representatives of the board were willing to meet union representatives in regard to fixing new working conditions this evening at 7.30 p.m., Mr Thompson stated: “Your request that the number of union representatives to be present should be increased is acceded to, but in this connection I have to refer you to the decision of the board when working conditions were under discussion over a year ago, viz.: that only employees he present. II is desired that this arrangement should he repeated. It will mean that officers of the hoard will be excluded, as well as yourself. The conference will consist of four members of the board, and five members of the union. You can have six employees present if you desire.”

“ The decision of iast year would not have been repeated, but for your actions following the submission to you of draft new working conditions on June 14 last,” added Mr Thompson. “ It is not advisable when negotiations for new industrial conditions are commenced in a conciliatory spirit for publicity to be given to them with strongly expressed comments by one of the parties before the first conference is held.

“ No great objection could be raised to this departure from courteous custom by you, if your comments had been fair ones, but when you, in a provocative manner, when private’ negotiations are being commenced, publish ex parte statements, partly, if not wholly, untrue, you cannot be surprised if difficulty is experienced by the board in maintaining the spirit which should be prominent in negotiations of this kind. “ Arrangements will be- made for union representatives to be off duty on Wednesday evening.” “ Truth Resented.’”

“ Mr Thompson’s letter is indicative of the policy of the Tramway Board right throughout the piece in all cases where it is possible to punish the individual,” commented Mr Snow. “It goes to prove, in my opinion, that victimisation was indulged in so far as some of the recent dismissals were con-

cerned. It goes also to prove that the president of the union was dismissed as a result of his union activities, and it also clearly shows, at all events, that the board would not hesitate to ‘ fire ’ me if it was in its power to do so. AH I have done, I have done as a representative of the Tramway Union, and not as an individual, and yet the board is treating it as an individual matter. Mr Thompson’s letter also serves to demonstrate that if there is one thing in the ’world the board resents it is the truth. Two sets of claims were published, and comparisons were made between them by me. I want to point out in this connection that in the past the Tramway Board has never hesitated to publish the union’s claims, and to comment upon them at any stage of the proceedings, where the union’s claims meant any increased expenditure to the board. I venture to say that on this occasion, if the union’s claims had meant any increase in expenditure the board would not have hesitated to repeat what it has done in the past. I. personal],)', act as a representative of the unions, and carry out its instructions. It is evident from Mr Thompson’s objections that the board favours Star Chamber methods, unless it suits itself to give publicity to certain matters. Iff my opinion, however, the public are entitled to know just as much what the board is offering as what the union’s proposals are.”