Possible New Crisis In Building Trade.

Chronicle (Levin), 8 June 1948, Page 3

Possible New Crisis In Building Trade.

Press Association j

(Per

" i AUCKLAND, June 17. / Another ihdustrial crisis may be de» velopiug in the building industry. Couciliation proceedings at • W^elbington last week coucerning avvard- claims for builder-s' labourers, day workei'S,. tun--;neliers and general. labourers, broke aown — at least, leiiiporayily- — and rank and iile unionisls involved- are being asked this week to consider whether the claims should be withdrawn from tlie Arbitration Court, The workers ' assessors said no basis for a se'ttlement existed. Tluiy regarded the employers'. counter claims as a reduetion in the liourly rate of pay and a withdrawal of the guaranteed weekly wage — a loss for some worltefs of 16s lOd weekly. The employers say the present rates for building .trade sub-contractors * labourers include certain sums in lieu of travelling time and payments for special Work. These were added to wages as an average sum, as an experiment. The April eonference of the New Zealand Master Buixders '. Federation decided that the experiment was a failure and the emplo'yers ' assessors sought to have travelling time and tlie special payments' average, divorced from tlie wages rates and to pay these allowances to workers individually when and as they oecurred. ' They said there was no desire to eut wages or to lower the workers ' standard.