THE DRIVERS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2938, 25 November 1916, Page 10

THE DRIVERS' DISPUTE

CONFERENCE TO MEET

THE MINISTER INTERVENES

It is now definitely stated by the secretary of the Drivers' Federation (Mr. Parlane) that until further notice the Auckland and other drivers' unions will continue their work. . I'erhaps the chief reason for this announcement is thai; tlie employers have promised to meet the unions in conference. For this the unions have asked over since the dispute was defined, hut the employers would not grant the demand on the general ground that they could not discuss with,the union any amendment of the award of the Court. As, however, it appeared to be possible that trouble would be precipitated if the employers would not meet the unions, the Minister of Labour (the Hon. W. 11. Herries), who has been in close touch with events from the very uegmning of the dispute, asked the employers to grant this request of the union for a conference, and the employers have agreed to do it. This.conference will he held on Tuesday next. One of the grievances of tho local union officials, was that the offer of the Wellington employers of a ten per cent, bonus to their men had never been made to the union, and they objected to the employers attempting to treat with the _ men otherwise than tnrougli "the union. This objection is now met by a communication addressed by tho secretary of the Wellington Employers' Association (Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell) to the secretary of the union. The effect of this, offer is to add to the minimum wage of £l_l2s. a war Sonus of os. 3d., and to tlie minimum wage of £2 16s. for' two-horse drivers a. bonus of 55.-8 d. t virtually raising the minimum rates to £2 17s'. 3d. and £3 Is. Sd. Drivers getting more than the_ minimum wage will get a bonus of os. a week, with this condition, that no driver shall ,be entitled to receive more than £3' 10b. per week. It should be understood that there are ■ drivers in Wellington who do receive this wage, and who add' to it by working overtime. THE EMPLOYERS' OFFER. A TEN PER CENT. BONUS. The exact terms of the employers' offer are given in the following letter, which was sent yesterday by the secretary of the Wellington Employers'' Association (Mr. W. A. W-. Grenfell) to' tho secretary of the. Wellington Drivers' Union (Mr. A. Parlane) :— "Be Drivers', Dispute. "In further reply to your letter of 6til- instant, and in order that your union may have a record of what the employers of Wellington City havje decided to do with regard to the above matter, I have to advise you that at a largely-attended meeting of employers of drivers it was resolved :— "(1) That a war bonus of 10 per cent, be paid to all horse drivers who are now in receipt of the minimum rates preso'.-ibed by tho Arbitration Court award. ' This bonus to be paid on the weekly wages exclusive of overtime. "(2) That a war bonus of Ss. per week bo paid to all other horse drivers —the maximum weekly wage (including bonus) not to exceed £3 10s. per week, exclusive of overtime. -. "(3) The above bonuses to be paid during the currency of the war and to continue for a poriotl of , three, months after the declaration .of peace. ... "The payment of th- 1 bonus will take effect immediately, and all drivers entitled to the same will be so notified today. It is sincerely hoped that the action of employers in adopting this course will result in a. complete settlement of the difficulty so far as Wellington is concerned." THE UNION'S REPLY. The secretary of tho Federation has replied to the letter as follows:— ■ "I have to acknowledge receipt (at 4.15 this-afternoon) of your letter of even date, advising that the_ employers of Wellington' City have decided to offer a 'war bonus' ot j.O per cent, to all /horse drivers in receipt of the minimum wage, and 55,. per week to all other drivers, with a maximum of £3 10s. per week. In reply, I beg to state fhat owing to the previous refusal of the Wellington employers to meet the local union the dispute has now been banded . over to the New Zealand Federation of Drivers' Unions for settlement. I have to express my regret that the'employers are making a settlement more difficult by endeavouring to treat with,the individual workers instead of with their organisations."

UNIONS AND THE MINISTER. The following offieial statement was issued by the Drivers' Federation yesterday "The representatives of the Drivers' Federation met the Hon. W. H. Herries, acting-Minister of Labour, tliis morning, and the Minister gave a definite assurance that, he would convene a compulsory conference of- the contending parties in the drivers' dispute, to be held at Wellington on Tuesday morning. The Minister agreed also that tho matter must be trea'ted on a Dominion basis, and that all offers must ho made officially to the Drivers' Federation, at Wellington. In view of the assurances given by the Minister, tho Drivers' Federation agreed to suspend hostilities until after the conference on Tuesday. "It has been alleged that an offer of a ten per cent, increase on the minimum award rates has heen made to the local Drivers' Union; This is not true, but an offer, of ten per cent, was made to the drivers in a local stable and rejected. The action of the employers in endeavouring to get behind the respec-" tive unions is bitterly resented, and is not likely to further conciliatory measures. The Drivers' Federation -is very firm in its claim, of £3 per week as a living wage for a one-horse driver. "In the meantime, the Auckland and all other Drivers' Unions win continue their work until further notice. Mr. Herries has agreed that in the event of an agreement beiug reached on Tuesday, 'it shall operate as from Monday morning." A FEW MISCONCEPTIONS. Hie following statement regarding certain inaccuracies in the account furnished by the representatives of the drivers of his interview with them was made by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. W. H. Herries) last night:— "I note fhat in a report appearing in the evening paper of a meeting I ha<f with representatives_of thp Driv-. ers' Union, one or two mistakes occur, doubtless duo to a misunderstanding, that should be cleared. I was not'in any way responsible for that report, nor was I a*.vare that any report would be furnished to- the newspapers, as I considered the whole interview as a confidential one. "The conference is not a compulsory one, as the Government has no power to compel any one. ' The employers assured mo that if at any time tho Government called a conference they would be glad to attend. I mentioned this to the representatives of the union, so that I cannot understand the term 'compulsory' being used. Tho expression 'The matter must bo treated on a Dominion basis' refers to tho attendance at the conference, which 1 intend to be on a Dominion basis, consisting of representatives of all who are affected by the Dominion award who care to be represented. The term 'Dominion basis' does not refer to tho agreement ■whichj may -be arrived at, as I wish to leave the entirely - unfettered, free to make: any agreement it may think fit—as long as the matter is settled. ' "With reference to the remark about offers coming through the union, that does not apply to offers to ho made at the conference, which must be made as usual through the • chairman. The expression in the_ report arises, I presume, from an opinion which I expressed, and which 1 still hold, that all tho offers of bonus or increased pav which have been recently mado would have heen better mado'through the officials of the union concerned, than direct to the men. My desire in calling the conference is to get tho employers and the men together to thrash out their differences, and arrive at\ an amicable solution of tho question, which, to me, does not seem at all insoluble, provided both parties approach it in a spirit of give and take." ' The union Meeting. ■ The ballot of the local union on-tho proposal to strike closes to-day. The ballot is being taken on a question somewhat in this.form:—"Are you In. favour of striking as a protest against the refusal of the employers to meet the union at a conference?" The question of wages does not enter into the issue submitted. A special meeting of the union will be held to-morrow at 2.30 p.m., in the Alexandra Hall, at wbich meeting the result of the ballot shoiild 'be declared. Presumably, however, in view of the conference to meet on Tuesday, the result of the ballot will not affect immediate events.