BUILDING TRADES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 67, 20 March 1942, Page 3

BUILDING TRADES

MOBILISATION OF LABOUR WELCOMED AMENDMENTS TO LN DI STRIA L PLAN WANTED. (P.A.) Wellington, March 19.! A statement issued by the New Zea- ! land Building Trade Federation wel-' comes the mobilisation of labour and I materials in the building industry lor defence works but points out that there' are important differences between the Government's scheme and the workers’ plan for the building industry, the most important being that the scheme makes no provision for workers’ representation on the Defence Construction Council. 'rhe federation will continue urging this proposal, while accepting the present plan as a basis for further advances. It is also contended that the commissioner should be subject, to the direction of the Construction Council., The statement says in regard to the ’ consultations that its representatives, were confronted not with draft pro- • posals but with cut and dried plans of ! the organisation and conditions of employment. The matter of the abrogation of 1 he award in respect to Sundays and holiday work was not mentioned at the discussion but it was first mentioned by the commissioner the , next day. The workers’ representatives endorsed the general plan for control of the industry but reserved the right to declare their at- ■ titude on wages and conditions. After hearing Mr. James Fletcher they rejected the proposals for flat 1 rates and the abrogation of the Sun- I day and holiday award provisions. I Nevertheless regulations based on the l original proposals were applied. The i workers’ representatives were taking steps to secure the removal of such injustices as would give rise to’ discontent. “However, strongly as we disagree with the methods adopted in working out this plan, we. as trade unionists, will not do anything to impair the unity of the people or delay the completion of measures necessary for our l existence,” says the statement. “Ac-1 cordingly we are advising our affilia- I lions to accept the plan and provisions; in the meantime and get under way : immediately. "We are placing the greatest em- ■’ ohasis on the speedy establishment ofi job committees, as we consider that] these committees offer the best means, of securing efficient completion of the i work and also the best means through which the workers can make known to the Government and secure action; on the many amendments to Ihe scheme of control and to the working conditions and wages which the federation considers necessary and] urgent." The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P.| Fraser, comments that the decision of* the Government was not made until! after discussion with representatives' of the organisations concerned. "It is quite true that representations madej by one or two of the unions were not' adopted. I regret that the co-opera-; lion of the federation is weakened by. many qualifications. Only whole-; hearted co-operation will really count. 1 ' That is forthcoming from the mass of[ workers in the Ixilding trades and: other workers concerned. The de-i fence construction programme will* accordingly be pushed through ■with'; vigour and efficiency.” Mr. Fletcher, commissioner for de- ’ fence construction, states that, new • rates of pay and hours for defence; work operate as from last Saturday and all contractors must comply as; from that dale. The only exceptions' from the prescribed rates are leading ' hands and foremen. Apprentices must be employed in accordance with their apprenticeship contracts.