SHARP CLEAVAGE

Chronicle (Levin), 28 January 1947, Page 7

SHARP CLEAVAGE

-Press As3)ociation

TRAMWAY UNION'S MEETING

By Telegraph-

DXJKitiDlJN, Jan. 2/. A sharp cleavage • between elements desoribing tliemselves as ' ' moderates ' ' and ' 'progressives" ocourred at tho annual moeting of the Dunedin brauch of the Kew Zealand Tramways Union yesterday following the prosentation of the executive's roport by the prosidont (Mr. W. B. Ricliards). Discussing the qucstion of ' a Dorninion award, Mr. Ricliards said that, if the assessors were faeed vvith a possibility of going to the OonciliatiOn' Council and the Arbitration Court and mccting with a rebulf, the question would arise, wliat was the union going to do? There was only oue thing it could do — to dercgister under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and to reregister under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. Then, lie said, the union would have the riglit to strike. A plebiseite on a Dominion award was carried by G to 1, and another on the deregistration issue by 3 to 1. The national council had not decidedwliat course of action should be taken after the union had deregistered, Mr. Ricliards continued. That would be determined by union • members thernselves. Spealting of local negotions with the city transport committee, Mr. Richards said: "I am hopeful that a good agreement will be concluded. This will also bencfxt the city council because, after being in Wellington last week, I am eertain that there is an upsurge in the industrial movement througliout the country. The workers are not satislied with liourlv rates of pav, or with their weelcly income under the 40-hour week. Dsow that overtime lias ceased, the worlcers realise that is is impossible to live on the liourly rate under the 40hour week." The upsurge in New Zealand, as in Australia, appeared to have been initiated more in the transport industrv than in any otlier, he said, but that did not mean it did not exist in other industries as well. "It may not be long," he said "before the Tramways Union is put in the position of seeking assistance t'rom the Transport Workers' Federatiou. You will have to fight to get what you want bccause you are not in such a favourable position as the watersiders and seamen, but I am satislied that the first group whicli will .offer you assistance will be the Waterside Workers' Union. Your fight wiJJ be its hglit." Challenging the chairman's attitude. Mr. C. A. Stiglish said: "You have put up a good case for the Left. You stand for militant unionism. I stand for sane unionism. Where has your militancy got you today? Where has your Lahour Government got? If there had been an eiection tms weeic it:"woiuci have gone out.f There is only one way to .settle a dispute, and that is to get round .the coxiference table. I do nojt believe in yoiir fight tactics. I reckoh "tliait there is; a strong body of opinion ih - the' tram^heds* agai-nst) direcb action ari;^ those taptics: ' Where have your stifkes put your -Labour Government?" Mr.; Stiglish' asltfid. "Wc know that ■ today we hive good moncy, and gooc! coiidftions. (TJh'e position can he im proved, but t do not think they will "be improved by yoxu' tactics, which wil: end in yoiu' Laboiu- Government gding out. ' ' After l'urtliei* discussion the execu tive's rejiort wa's aduptcd, Ihe chainnan describing the niotion as one of con hdeuce in Ihe executive's policy in tlie last 12 moutlis.