TRAMWAY CRISIS LOOMING

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1947, Page 3

TRAMWAY CRISIS LOOMING

WELLINGTON, June 30. Even at tliis stage, the officers of tne New Zealand Trannvays EmpJoyees ; Union had a decided preferenee that the question of a national agreement wita the employing authorities sliould be settled by peaceful negoJtiation, saul the national seeretarv of the union (Mr. P. A. Hansen) todav. Although notice had been given eonsiderably in advance that today was the " deadline, ' ' from the union point of view, and that it wouid be necessary for the union to determine its poliey, there had been no new approaeh from the employing side, continued Mr. Iiansen. He added: "Unless there is some evidence of peaceful negotiations, we view the future with a good deal oi apprehension." Mr. Hansen said the national executive of the union wouid nieet in Wellington on Wednesdav, and the question of the national agreement wouid be one of the issnes discussed. There wouid be no indication until after the ineeting about vvhat wouid be done, In/his .opinion, however, the sit..ation;was very .serious._ Since flie " union' eontfucteil a s'eer'e't ballot last December, and the niembers deelared themselves overwhelmingly m t'avour of a national agreement, mucli dissatisfaetion had been apparent. in all the main centres there had been aetual stoppages of work, or threats to stop work. The union remained anxious to effect the agreement by peaceful negotiation. The measuro of the dissatisfaetion over conditions and rates could ioe appreciated when it was remembered that, at one timo, there was a waiting list of some thousands of men, in all the main centres, seeking employment on the trannvays. There was in normai time a waiting list of some 2000 in Wellington.

The position now was that men were practically being begged to work on the trarnways, and the employers hau aought the assistanee of the National Employment .Service to get men to come to Wellington. The pr-oblem now was to hold the men in this employment. The situation was detrimental to the present employees, who obviously coutd not benefit from overloading and tlie added strains due to staff shortages. The union had often stressed to tlie einployer the necessity of facing the realities of the changed situation. Mr. Hansen recalled that the attitude

of the members of the union was elearly and forcefully expressed in the secrex ballot talcen last December. Support of negotiations by the .union to conclude a national agreement was given by 1693 members, with only 378 against. There was another significant decision , by secret ballot. To the question: "ln tiie event of the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act preventing the, conelusion of a na1 tional agreement, are you in favour of de-registration under that Act and reregistration as provided in the Trades Union Act?" the voting was 1683 for, and only 369 against.