Union Action In Dispute About Pay

Chronicle (Levin), 2 June 1948, Page 5

Union Action In Dispute About Pay

Press Associationj

(Per

D UNEDJX, June 3. The Duneilin brnnch of the New Zealuinl Tramuay.s' I'nion decided bv M-cret biillot at a stopwork meeting ycsterday not to operate any of the eity Irausport servii'es until sueh time as the ('ity rouncil 's transpcxrt committee rnceives a desolation, from the executive of the union to discuss the pre-,-i'iit dispute about payinent of aetinn drivers at drivers ' rates. This deeision vas reaehed by the union by 240 votes to 45 after a deputation tt) the engineer-manager (Mr. I.. C. Greigi had been informed that the deputaliou would be heard only when the trams and buses were again operating as nsual. The union set up a strike eomniittee eoinprising nienibers of tlie exeeutive and will hold a further meeting tlns aftenioon to diseuss the position. The strike continued this morning with motorists helping to transport work-people and a few conipanies operaling trueks for their employees. A speeial meeting of the City Couneil linaiiimouslv resolved not to meet tiie union representatives until work v.as resumed. "If the .-ervit-es are not operatang loou, " ' said the transport eomniittee eruiirman ( Cr. E. .1. Anderson), " anui iier speeial meeting of the eouneiJ will be requested, when plans aiready prepared to meet the einergeney will be pre-ented. " The Tramways Union prerideiit iMr. W. B. Kiehards) replied that he expei-ted the union to adhere to i;> ilecisiun not to resume until the deiiijinds were met. The dispute will be if-viewed at a speeial meeting of the eidon this aftenioon. The national exeeutive of the Trarnv. ays I'nion i> reported to have en-o-u'sed the Dunedin union 's attitude.