NATIONAL AGREEMENT SOUGHT BY TRAMWAYMEN

Chronicle (Levin), 4 March 1947, Page 7

NATIONAL AGREEMENT SOUGHT BY TRAMWAYMEN

-Pr?ss Association

By Telegraph—

AUCKLAND, MaYcli 3. In a secrol ballot members. of the New Zealand Tramways Authorities Employeos Union, by au overwhelming decisiou, express the desire for a national . agreement to cover members throughout the country. This was stated in a letter receivecj by the Auckland Transport Board from the national secretary wlio forwar.ded a schedule of cluiins for a national agreement and suggested that a conference oi' einployers and unionists be- held in Wellington on March 18. "This is a matter of considerable importance, " commented the chairman, Mr. W. H. Nagle. "We have for ..some time considered the claims put forward by the Auckland Union aruj only last week dccirjed upon our answer. Now we luive the national union seekiug a Dominion agreemeut. " Moving that the manager, Mr. E. B. Foster, should represent the board at the .conference, Mr. Nagle said it was signilicant that, at a secret ballot, tramwaymen throughout New Zealaud had, by what was described as an overvvhelming majority, deeided to press for a national agreement. There had to be elasticity to allow for'peculiar working condit-ions in each centre. If Mr, Foster was to go he would have full power to resist any proposal that would aflfect the enterprise in Auckland. First of all the trainway men would have to settle among themselves -wliich was to have priority, the claims of the Dominion Union or those of lo'cal unipns. Mr. Nagle 's motion was carried.