CARPENTERS’ PROTEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 203, 25 August 1944, Page 4

CARPENTERS’ PROTEST

DISPUTE OVER TRAVELLING TIME MANY WALKING TO WORK Following a controversy between the Wanganui Carpenters' Union and the employers, more than 130 carpenters walked to work yesterday morning as £ protest against the withholding oi certain travelling time privileges to which they claim they are entitled. Not all members of the Carpenters and Joiners’ Union are affected, but this move was agreed on unanimously at a special meeting of union members. Some members not actually involved left their cycles at home and walked to work as a gesture. It was stated yesterday that because the men are walking in their own time, working hours are not affected, but claims for w|ilking time will be made on employers. Directly concerned are the men working under the Essential Building Works Labour Legislation Modification Order. They are engaged on projects such as State houses, hospitals and defence works. Carpenters are not the only tradesmen affected- by the Modification Order, which applies also to painters, plumbers, labourers, bricklayers, and electricians employed on declared works, and it is possible that the dispute concerning travelling time may extend to them.

“The whole point of this travelling time controversy is that the employer has the option of conveying the men to work at his expense, or of paying travelling time,” said the secretary of the Wanganui Carpenters and Joiners' Union, Mr. W. Moore. yesterday. “Before March 30. 1942, workers were paid for all distance travelled beyond a mile and a-half from the central point to the job, at walking rates of three miles an hour, in accordance with Clause 9 of the Modification Order, which states that all distances shall be measured by the nearest convenient mode of access for foot passengers. This was customary and was paid by the employers without question. On April 4, 1944, an amendment to Clause 9, duly gazetted, gave workers travelling time from the central point, thus cutting out the mile and a-half provision in the earlier order.

The question had been considered by a disputes committee consisting of two employers and two workers’ representatives, added Mr. Moore. The first meeting ended in a deadlock, and at the second the workers’ representatives had agreed, under protest. to a cycling time allowance based on 10 miles an hour, plus an allowance of 2s 6d a week. Mr. Moore added that the union now claimed that, until the employers convey the men to the job, travelling lime at the walking rate of three miles an hour will be claimed, and members of the union pro-pose putting lheir cycles as ; de until this is granted. Tn asking for such payment the union was, he claimed, not involving employers in any extra expense on con-: tracts already entered into, as such extras were covered by industrial law. EMPLOYERS’ STATEMENT. Interviewed last night, the secretary of the Wanganui Builders and Contractors’ Union of Employers, Mr. E. Walpole, said the matter of payment for travelling time’to and from defence works, hospital work and Sthte housing has been the subject of conflicting opinion for some time. To clarify lhe position the local building trades disputes’ committee met and considered the matter. Their finding was that payments should be made at the rate of 10 miles per hour cycling time and from the agreedupon central point, and in addition 2s 6d a week for the use of the men’s cycles. “No man can be out of pocket under this arrangement,” added Mr. Walpole. The payment of distance money is

solely for the purpose of reimbursing the traveller for the time occupied travelling at the same rate of pay as when working at his occupation.