TRAMWAYMEN'S WAGES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16724, 6 January 1920, Page 6

TRAMWAYMEN'S WAGES.

SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT PROBABLE. As an outcomo of tho largo mooting of tramway men on Sunday morning, there aro rumours abroad that a "goslow" striko is imminent. Such reports aro, on tho authority of officials of tho Tramways Union, gross exaggerations. The tramwayinen aro na avorso to a striko as th« public. Tho real position i 8 that whon tho agreement between tlio Board and tho workers expired a short timo ago tho Board wanted a "round-the-table" talk with a view to a fresh agreement being arrived at. As tho local union had, however, joined th© Dominion Fedorat--1 ed Tramway Workers' Union, any local ior sectional agreement could not, at , tho time, b« discussed. Tho conference , between employing bodies and tho ! Federated Lnion, held in Wellington last month, proving abortive, tho Christchurch Board took tho unusual course for employers of citing tho workers before the Arbitration Court to havo a fresh award registered. The Hon. J. Barr, chairman of tho Christchurch Tramway Board, who attended tho confcrence in Wellington, informed a "Press" reporter last night that, acting on the recommendation of : the Arbitration Court, in order to meet I tho increasing cost of living, employees jin tho Dominion should bo generally I paid Id an hour in addition to tho present war bonus rate the Board last month agreed to give this extra pay until such timo as the now award, or agreement, was arrived at, and the increased pay camo into vogue during Docember. A ' Props'' reporter learned yestor- : day that the decision of the tramwaymen at tho meeting on Sunday wag that the Board should be invited to meet a deputation from tho union with a yiew to a satisfactory agreement being drawn up as early as possible, but any proposal coming from tho conforence must be subject to ratification by the Federation beforo it could be accepted bv the union. Mr Barr. questioned last night as to tho prospects of a mutual agreement being speedily arrived at. said he was j quito confident that such would bo ac- | complishod. So far th© relations botween tho Board nnd the union had been amicable. a:iw as a matter of fact tho Board and union worked hand in hand in arranging for as large a meet- ; ing as possible being held on Sunday morning.