THE CASES FOR COUNCIL AND MEN

Chronicle (Levin), 2 June 1948, Page 5

THE CASES FOR COUNCIL AND MEN

Press Assoctationi

(Per

WELLINGTON, June 1. The Dunedin City Oouneil had dfi-lined to yieid to eoereion in a dispute which had now led to a strike, suid Mr. K. E. Dawson, seeretarv of tlie l'ublic Passengcr Transport Associat. o! of New Zealaud, in a statement 'Xjilaining the issues in the Dunedin trumway dispute. Mr. Dawson said the couiieii reeently aseertained it was paying men at higher rates of pay conl iit.iously for a higher grade of duty, • i-n when they performed that cluty fusly occasionally. It was foiind this was luit doiie elsewhc-e and not justified ii !:di»r the deeision governing the eon•liiions in the industrv. Aocordinglv, the union was advised that conductors bu'iporarily usod as motormen, would !)e pahi as sueh only when they performed ii-olormen's duties. During subsequent d'si-ussions the couneil proposed to pay tlie men on this basis on the ground that fvhile doubt existed, it was not legally > i thieally entitled to continue paving out publie monevs for services noa rcndered. Tt was pointed out that if thc Hnal deeision were in the men's favour, they would be paid retrospeetivlv and lose notliing. The national seeretarv of the New Eealand Tramway Employees ' ITnion, Mr. P. A. Hansen, said todav that the union asked simply that the status quo slumld prevail in Dunedin pending the dci'i-ion of tlie Tribunal to sit on June k The eouneil, for 12 nionths, had I'ceu paying the men at a higher rata,

c.ontinuously, where the.y performed higher paid duties and should go on doing so wliile the issue was under eonsideration. The union had agreed that the status quo should obtain in a similar dispute in Auckland where the men were not being paid the higher rate. If the status quo was good enough for the employers in Auckland it should be also in Dunedin.