UNDERRATE PAY"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2696, 16 February 1916, Page 3

UNDERRATE PAY"

TRADES COUNCIL'S CIRCULAR.

The following is a copy of a circular which has been issued by the Wellington Trades Union, to the whole of the unions under* its jurisdiction:— "We have to draw your attention to the fact that on Thursday, February 10, 1915, an Order-in-Council was issued by tho Government providing for the ' suspension. of those provisions of any award or industrial agreement which prescribe the conditions of employment of undor-rate workers and apprentices, and those provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and its amendments relating thereto in so far as they prevent or restrict the employment of any discharged soldier. Immediately on becoming an are of this the Wellington Trades and _ Labour Council called a spccial meeting of representatives of all local unions which after considering the matter unanimously arrived at the following resolution: —

'That in the opinion of this meeting there is 110 real need for the. method cocfcemplafced in the Order-in-Council, as practically in every award in existence tho partially incapacitated or elderly worker is entitled to an under-rate permit. Further, whether, intentional or otherwise we fear the effect of the scheme now put forward, would be to divert the pension awarded . tlie soldier, because of his wounds, into tie pockets of tho employer. We regard the whole scheme as unfair to the discharged soldier, juid unfair to his civilian fellow-worker, and wo consider that the only people who would be benefited would be the employer, who with the assistance of the Government would reap a harvest- of cheap labour at the expense of the returned soldier. It . was resolved that this resolution should be forwarded to your organisation, with a request that it should bo given the fullest and most serious consideration, and it- is our desire that you forward us your decision on or before March 15.' "